Nathan Gaucher – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2025-26 NHL YEARBOOK – ANAHEIM DUCKS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #8

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 17:18:19 +0000

Beckett Sennecke #45 of the Oshawa Generals (Kalvin Taylor/Goodall Media)

Prospect System Ranking – 8th (May 2025 - 5th)
GM: Pat Verbeek Hired: February 2022
COACH: Joel Quenneville Hired: May 2025

The Anaheim Ducks missed the playoffs for a seventh straight season in 2024-25, but brighter days are on the horizon. The club’s young core is beginning to ripen, and the prospect pipeline remains among the league’s best.

For the seventh consecutive year, Anaheim made a top 10 selection at the NHL Draft, this time landing Roger McQueen—an imposing talent who might have gone in the top five if not for a lingering back injury. They followed that by selecting Eric Nilson in the second round, another addition to their top 10 prospects list.

The foundation in Anaheim is already strong, with recent graduates Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and a youthful blue line led by Pavel Mintyukov, Olen Zellweger, and Jackson LaCombe. That group will now be guided by Joel Quenneville, a controversial but accomplished head coach whose experience could be the catalyst for a breakthrough.

Several prospects are knocking on the NHL door. Sam Colangelo emerged as a surprise AHL rookie standout, producing 40 points in 40 games for San Diego before earning 32 NHL appearances. On defense, Tristan Luneau impressed with 52 points in 59 AHL games and is pressing hard for a roster spot despite a crowded back end.

Stian Solberg, meanwhile, had a strong audition in the American League to cap off his 2024-25 campaign. His physical game is NHL ready, though he’s still likely a couple of years from making his debut.

In the CHL, Beckett Sennecke continues to headline the system after another stellar year in Oshawa, amassing 209 points in 180 career junior games. With little left to prove at that level, a nine-game NHL audition in 2025-26 seems probable.

With Quenneville’s guidance and a blend of NHL-ready prospects alongside an emerging core, Anaheim appears poised to end its playoff drought. The Ducks’ youth movement is ready to take flight—and contention could arrive sooner rather than later.

Anaheim Ducks Top-15 Prospects

1 - Beckett Sennecke

No one was more shocked to see Sennecke drafted third overall last year than Sennecke himself, which made for some outstanding memes. However, he was worthy of a high selection thanks to his high-end physical tools, high-end skill, and improving frame. He got off to a late start this past year thanks to a foot fracture, but he had a positive draft year plus one as an offensive leader for the Oshawa Generals. He dominated puck touches the way that you would expect, using his soft hands and reach to help protect the puck and prolong possession. He excels near the crease and has worked hard to improve his release, making him more dangerous in the scoring area. As he continues to build strength, his physicality and off puck play is also becoming more consistent. The projection for Sennecke has not changed; he remains a potential top six forward and should challenge for a roster spot as early as this coming season.

2 - Roger McQueen

The concerns that NHL teams had about McQueen's back issues going into the 2025 draft were justified, but at a certain point the potential reward of drafting him outweighed any potential risks. For the Ducks in particular, who have stockpiled a lot of great young assets in recent years, especially at forward, they were perfectly positioned to roll the dice on him when they did, at 10th overall. The big, smooth, versatile pivot brings a variety of different and desirable attributes to the table and could reach quite a high ceiling once he's fully developed, if everything goes according to plan and he can stay healthy. Every NHL team wants more guys with his package of size and skill. After missing so much time last season due to injury his recent decision to join Providence College in the NCAA in the fall is a gamble, as their schedule of games will be much shorter than Brandon's in the WHL, and he'll have a lot of rust to shake off.

3 - Tristan Luneau

Turning the page and hoping for continued luck regarding health, Tristan Luneau will be looking to crack the NHL lineup for the Anaheim Ducks. Two years in a row he’s had stints with the main club and with a good preseason he might be part of the lineup on day one. The Quebec-born defenceman possesses solid skating ability, using lateral and crossover movements to create space for himself offensively. With his good hockey IQ, he scans for the best options in breakouts and supports his team in zone entries. While Tristan is almost point-per-game at the AHL level, he does not possess a dynamic offence that will translate to the NHL. But a future as a top four defenceman playing the second power play unit is not too far off a reach.

4 - Stian Solberg

The jump from Norwegian pro hockey to the SHL was a tricky adjustment to make for Solberg. Yet somehow, the jump to the AHL was seamless. His style of hockey is perfect for North America. The smaller ice surface lets him close gaps quicker and inflict pain on opponents, his favourite thing to do. He’s tapping into some of his upside at the offensive blueline and puck moving through the neutral zone, which was on full display at the World Championships. He still needs to work on his back skating and his defensive reads, but that’ll come with in time. All things considered, he doesn’t look all that far off from NHL ready. For Solberg, the key is to keep doing what you’re doing. Listen to your coaches and trainers, keep getting reps, and keep playing your brand of hard-nosed hockey. It’s a matter of when, not if, Solberg will earn his spot in Anaheim’s bottom four.

5 - Sam Colangelo

Sam took great steps this past season. Making the switch from any junior/college league is tough but Colangelo adjusted quite well. Pretty much had a 50/50 split, he was point per game at the AHL level in 40 games and had solid production at the NHL level when he got called up for 32 stints. For being a bigger guy, Sam has good north-south skating ability. The strength in his skating lies in transitioning through the neutral zone and possesses solid power in his first strides. He’s got a solid shot but it’s not going to beat goalies cleanly on a consistent basis at the NHL level. However, Sam is good at finding open space and with his strong net-front presence he will find opportunities to finish rebounds. His defensive game still needs work, especially if he wants to have a permanent spot with the big club. It’ll be interesting to see if the experience in his first pro year and another summer of training will result in Sam turning into a more complete player.

6 - Tarin Smith

Smith is one of the best-kept secrets in the WHL right now, but that likely won't last for long, especially after he was just invited by Hockey Canada a few months ago to participate in the World Junior Summer Showcase. The Silvertips emerged as the best team in the league this regular season and he was an essential piece of their success, using his explosive skating ability to drive play up ice and create offensive opportunities for both himself and his teammates. While Everett’s playoff dreams were stopped earlier than expected this past spring, the team should be a top championship contender in 202025-26, which will be valuable experience for Smith. Even though the Ducks are loaded with young defenceman, both inside and outside of the NHL, their success with fellow puck-rushers in Jackson LaCombe and Olen Zellweger suggests that they will find ways to utilize Smith's talents whenever he's ready.

7 - Eric Nilson

Nilson’s versatility and two-way play were key factors in Djurgarden sweeping the major Swedish junior championships (J18 and J20) this season. Despite being pushed down the lineup by other talents, Nilson’s upside is immense. He’s an explosive, shifty skater and dynamically skilled on the puck. He reads the game far, far beyond the junior level. He was only held out of pro competition because of his poor physical strength. A major knock on Nilson has been his teenager-like build and his ability to put on weight, but genetics and his commitment to MSU hockey for the 2025-2026 season could completely eliminate those concerns. It should also help him get some strength behind his shot and help him drive inside more. He’ll never hold an NHL job if he never gets bigger, but Nilson could be one of the biggest steals of the draft if his development goes as expected, with his NHL ceiling being that of a second line center who can impact play in all three zones.

8 - Sasha Pastujov

The Anaheim Ducks seem to have an abundance of offensive talent at their minor league club, and Sasha Pastujov is part of that group. Like Sam Colangelo, Sasha was point per game in his second pro season but did not get to spend time with the NHL club. There have been question marks about his skating and off-puck play but Sasha has removed those doubts. He skates hard and consistently gets up to speed in odd man rushes, while also improving his defensive game in both effort and making plays. The shot has always been good, and he continues to score in multiple different ways. It’s going to be a bloodbath to battle for a roster spot with the Ducks but thanks to his progression in his overall game there is a possibility for him to make an impact.

9 - Ian Moore

At 23 years old, Ian Moore is certainly one of the elder statesmen on this list, but the 2020 third-round pick just turned pro after a full four years at Harvard University. Moore, Harvard’s captain in his Junior and Senior seasons, played in all situations for the Crimson. When he was drafted, it looked as if he may be able to parlay his skating and confidence with the puck into a bit more offence, but he has since become a more responsible two-way blueliner. The mobile 6-foot-3 defender supplied some offence at the college level but will not be relied on for many points as a pro. While he isn’t an offensive creator, he can be counted on to move the puck effectively and get it up ice. Defensively, he uses his skating very effectively as a rush defender, which is a deadly combination with his large frame. Moore should be able to contribute in Anaheim as a bottom-pair blueliner within the next year or two.

10 - Lucas Pettersson

It was a tough season for Petterson. The SHL proved to be too tough for him at his current stage of development. He didn’t have enough offensive oomph to play in MoDo’s top six and didn’t have enough physicality or resilience to play in the bottom six. In addition, he was left off of Sweden’s WJC. If it weren’t for his loan to Ostersunds IK in the HA, there would be bust allegations being lodged against him. He racked up 19 points in 29 games and looked like a dynamic talent with sure-fire top six NHL upside. He can push the pace with high-end skill, high-end skating, strong IQ and creativity… he just does it so inconsistently. He also doesn’t have that physical game that you need to stick it at levels beyond the NHL yet. Despite the challenging year, Pettersson signed his ELC and will get another go around in the SHL on loan with Brynäs. There, he’ll be mentored by former NHLers like Jakob Silfverberg and the legendary Nicklas Bäckström. If that doesn’t help him take a big step, I don’t know what will.

11 - Damian Clara

At 6-foot- 6, Clara possesses a strong technical foundation and moves efficiently in the crease. He flashed some potential in a two-game AHL stint last season once his Liiga campaign had concluded. Despite not being the quickest goalie, Clara has NHL potential thanks to his size and technical ability. He will be making the jump to the SHL with Brynas this fall and should be splitting time with long time pro Collin Delia.

12 - Rodwin Dionicio

Dionicio has NHL size at 6-foot- 2, 205 pounds, and has flashed offensively at every level. Yet, a turbulent AHL season saw him return to Switzerland midstream, where he split time in the NLA and the junior level. Dionicio is not a great mover but has the sense and vision to potentially be a third pairing, power play point man in the NHL. He’ll get another crack at AHL duty this season.

13 - Yegor Sidorov

The skilled Sidorov improved as the year went on in the AHL. In the early going, he still flashed junior habits, often flying the zone and cheating for offence. By season’s end, though, he was a much more active forechecker and showed improved strength along the boards. The NHL path in Anaheim might be difficult, but another solid AHL season for the 21-year-old could set him up for NHL duty down the road.

14 - Maxim Masse

Masse has an NHL frame and a solid skating stride. A responsible player, he also possesses a heavy shot and has the hockey sense to find teammates. The only question is how much of that offence in the QMJHL will translate at the next level, but he has the details and work rate to be a long time NHLer. Sidelined by injury last season, expect him to take another step offensively for Chicoutimi this year.

15 - Nathan Gaucher

Gaucher has struggled to replicate his junior production in the AHL, posting 19 points in 56 games in his second pro season. Nevertheless, Gaucher still possesses NHL tools thanks to his size and strength. Although he doesn’t possess a standout offensive trait, he’s a clever passer in small areas and got power play time as a net-front presence in San Diego. Look for him to try to earn a call-up to Anaheim this season.

2025 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: #5 ANAHEIM DUCKS – Top 15 NHL Affiliated Prospects

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 12:19:41 +0000

PARADISE, NV - JUNE 28: Beckett Sennecke of the Oshawa Generals is drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the first round during the NHL Draft on June 28, 2024 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire)

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Anaheim 25 Prospects

MCKEEN’S 2024-25 NHL YEARBOOK – ANAHEIM DUCKS – Top 15 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #4

Introduction - Dave Hall, Profiles - Brock Otten — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 13:00:10 +0000

_{LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) skates with the puck during an NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings on April 13, 2024 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire)}

Prospect System Ranking – 4th (Previous Rank - 7th)
GM: Pat Verbeek Hired: February 2022
COACH: Greg Cronin Hired: June 2023

It’s been seven years since the people of Anaheim have experienced playoff hockey. While this drought may be frustrating, the silver lining is the organization has now churned out one of the more potent prospect pipelines in the entire NHL.

The Ducks have elevated their prospect pool significantly, now boasting three players in McKeen’s top 30 rankings. Leading the charge is Olen Zellweger (ranked 22nd), who made waves in his rookie campaign on the San Diego Gulls’ blueline. GM Pat Verbeek continued to stockpile talent by acquiring high-pedigree names such as Cutter Gauthier (ranked 6th) via the Jamie Drysdale trade and drafting Beckett Sennecke (ranked 28th) with the third overall pick at the 2024 NHL Draft.

Zellweger, who split time between Anaheim and San Diego last season, is now competing with fellow rising star and 2023-24 graduate Pavel Mintyukov for a top four spot on the Ducks’ roating six. Gauthier, a Hobey Baker Finalist, joins the Ducks full-time after an impressive NCAA career, tallying 102 points in 73 games. He’s already made his presence felt by picking up an assist in his first NHL game. Meanwhile, Sennecke will continue his development with the Oshawa Generals in the OHL.

On the farm, prospects such as Sasha Pastujov (244th), Jan Myšák, Tyson Hinds (254th), Nathan Gaucher (201st), and Tristan Luneau (84th) are either starting or continuing to build their AHL careers with an eye on future NHL opportunities. Verbeek also added some intriguing talent to the pipeline through the draft, including defencemen Stian Solberg (88th) and Tarin Smith (269th). Both bring contrasting styles of play but add intriguing depth and versatility to the Ducks’ future defensive core.

As the team explores potential trade options for longtime goaltender John Gibson, Lukas Dostal has officially staked his claim as the NHL backup. Meanwhile, Damian Clara, the club’s 2023 second-round pick, continues to shine overseas. As a rookie goaltender in the Allsvenskan, Clara posted an incredible 25-8-0 record and went 10-1-0 in the playoffs, securing a championship and promotion to the SHL. He was named Rookie of the Year for his efforts.

The Ducks now boast one of the top prospect systems in the NHL, and their youthful core is already showing great promise. With Leo Carlsson (19), Mason McTavish (21), Pavel Mintyukov (20), Troy Terry (26), and Trevor Zegras (23) leading the charge—Zegras’s situation still to be determined—the Ducks are set for a bright future filled with skill, youth, and excitement.

Anaheim Ducks Top-15 Prospects

1. Cutter Gauthier

The Ducks and Flyers shocked the hockey world when they pulled off a blockbuster at the beginning of January. Anaheim sent often injured younger defender Jamie Drysdale to Philadelphia and Philadelphia sent top prospect Cutter Gauthier to Anaheim. Gauthier was coming off a gold medal victory with Team USA at the IIHF World Juniors, a tournament where he was named the best forward and an all-star. As one of the top young players outside of the NHL, Gauthier has vaulted to the top of Anaheim’s star-studded prospect pool. He had a remarkable sophomore season for Boston College and was a Hobey Baker candidate. His 37 goals were the second most scored in the NCAA in the last 25 years. He excels as a North/South attacker because of his strong skating ability, coupled with his dynamic goal scoring ability. Whether he plays center or wing at the pro level remains to be seen, but his two-way ability also shows significant potential. Gauthier has signed with Anaheim and has a good chance of earning a top nine role this season; he is a preseason Calder favourite.

2. Olen Zellweger

Zellweger’s transition to the pro level was pretty seamless. He really gained confidence through a late season callup to Anaheim. An AHL all-star last season, Anaheim was able to be patient with Olen given their depth and position in the standings. This really helped him gain confidence in his ability to defend at the pro level, which was the only truly questionable part of his game coming into the year. There was no question that the offensive ability would translate, but could he excel in the defensive end? The answer to that question was yes…at least at the AHL level. The late season callup to the NHL proved he still has work to do to defend at that level. A tremendous four-way mover, Zellweger rarely gets boxed in the defensive zone and is a breakout machine. He also uses said mobility to quarterback the powerplay with remarkably efficiency. A heads-up passer and high IQ player, it seems inevitable at this point that Zellweger will become a high-end offensive defender at the NHL level…perhaps as early as next season. His ability to add strength and improve his physical intensity will dictate his ultimate ceiling as a two-way player.

3. Beckett Sennecke

The Ducks shocked the hockey world (and Sennecke himself) when they selected him at third overall in the 2024 NHL Draft. The lanky winger oozes upside due to his athleticism and rare combination of size and skill. On the back of a tremendous second half performance (including the playoffs), Sennecke rocketed up draft boards late in the year. The Oshawa Generals forward is the complete package as a potential power winger. He is explosive on his edges and moves well for a bigger player who has recently undergone a massive growth spurt. He is creative and skilled with the puck, capable of consistently escaping pressure. He shows well as both a goal scorer and a playmaker, exhibiting better vision and passing ability than your average bigger winger. The key for Sennecke is to bulk up to add strength to his frame, helping him be a more consistent off puck player. He will most certainly return to Oshawa this year in hopes of becoming one of the league’s elite players. He has the upside to be a longtime top six forward for Anaheim.

4. Tristan Luneau

Last season was a bit of a year to forget for Luneau. The former QMJHL defender of the year started the year well and even earned ice time in Anaheim. He was then loaned to Team Canada for the World Junior Championships and that’s when things went downhill. Luneau contracted the flu, then acquired a serious knee infection that saw him hospitalized. This effectively ended his season. But such a flukey thing does not tarnish Luneau’s upside or his likelihood of becoming a high-end NHL defender. The strong skating, two-way defender is a high-end processor whose offensive game and puck carrying ability have improved greatly since being selected by Anaheim in the second round. He will never be confused for a physical stalwart, but he uses his mobility and defensive awareness to keep the play in front of him. Hopefully Luneau can come to camp healthy this year and battle for a roster spot again. Although last year’s issues may cause Anaheim to be patient with Luneau, meaning that an AHL stint may be in store for him just as it was for Zellweger last season.

5. Stian Solberg

Whenever a team trades up to secure a player’s rights, it’s an indication of how greatly said team coveted said player. Insert physical Norwegian defender Stian Solberg, who the Ducks moved up to 23rd to select. Much like third overall pick Beckett Sennecke, Solberg was a late riser thanks to his strong performance at the World Championships for Norway. Solberg is a modern-day shutdown defender thanks to his size, mobility, and physical approach. He flashes greater upside as an offensive player and that will be the focus for him this coming season as he leaves Norway for Sweden; he has signed to play with Farjestad of the SHL. Solberg had struggles with his decision making with the puck at times this year and will need to work to make quicker decisions under pressure. Anaheim is hoping that Solberg can grow in Sweden the same way Moritz Seider did when he left Germany to aid in his development.

6. Damian Clara

The Big Italian netminder had an excellent draft plus one year in Sweden playing for Brynas of the Allsvenskan. Despite being only 19, he established himself as one of the top netminders in the league and was subsequently named the league’s top junior (or new player/ROY). An excellent athlete for his size, Clara has terrific upside as an NHL netminder, a reason why he was selected in the second round by the Ducks last year. Next year, Clara will take his talents to the SHL with Farjestad (playing along with recent first rounder Stian Solberg); a logical stepping stone to one day playing in the NHL. Clara is an impressive athlete for a bigger netminder, but the focus will be on refining that athleticism to make him a more consistent stopper. If he can replicate his success in the SHL, he’ll push his way to the top of many goaltending prospect lists.

7. Sam Colangelo

Lots of discussion about the NCAA’s transfer portal in recent months, but it’s designed to help players like Colangelo. It was obvious that his game had plateaued at Northeastern, and a move to Western Michigan helped to truly unlock Colangelo's potential as a power forward. He led WMU in goal scoring last year and has worked hard to put himself back on the map as a potential middle six player for the Ducks in the future. After a late season signing, Colangelo actually scored his first career NHL goal and proved that he might just be ready to battle for a roster spot this coming season. His transition to the pro level should be pretty seamless given his strength, strong two-way ability, and high IQ. However, there’s also a chance that Anaheim would prefer to see him play out some time in the AHL with more offensive responsibility, rather than have him see limited minutes with the big club.

8. Nathan Gaucher

Last season was Gaucher’s first as a pro with San Diego of the AHL and the offensive numbers don’t jump off the page at you. That said, Gaucher was never drafted to be an offensive juggernaut. With terrific speed, strength, and two-way awareness, the plan all along was for him to develop into a versatile middle six player for Anaheim who could help shut down the opposition’s best. While the offensive game was inconsistent as a rookie pro, the defensive and physical components of his game still earned praise and that’s what is most important. Anaheim is likely to let Gaucher repeat in the AHL this season, with the goal of improving his offensive production. Then they can ease him into the big club’s lineup slowly in a bottom six role in the future when his offensive confidence is at its highest.

9. Rodwin Dionicio

The selection of Dionicio as a draft re-entry in 2023 is bearing some pretty spectacular fruit early on. Dionicio emerged as one of the OHL’s top defenders last year and won a Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit later in May. Dionicio is an electrifying offensive talent. He routinely carries the puck from end to end, showcasing his high-end puck skill and creativity. As a powerplay quarterback, he consistently helps to breakdown coverage with his ability to work inside, beating pressure at the point. Dionicio is also a highly physical player who has a penchant for the big hit and who makes opposing players earn touches and open space when he is on the ice. The decision making still wavers; he is and can be a high risk/high reward player. As such, the transition to the pro level could be challenging for him. However, with patience, he could become a very productive and entertaining NHL player.

10. Lucas Pettersson

A strong skating, two-way pivot, Pettersson was the 35th overall pick by the Ducks in the most recent NHL draft. He excels on both sides of the puck thanks to a high IQ. Offensively, Pettersson is equal parts goal scorer and playmaker and he has a terrific understanding of how to leverage his speed to create chances. Defensively, he competes hard in puck pursuit and can be counted upon in all situations. Despite being recently selected by Saginaw in the CHL’s Import Draft, the expectation is still that Pettersson returns to Sweden to make MoDo full time in the SHL. Even if it’s in a limited role, earning full time minutes in the SHL would be crucial for Pettersson’s development as he learns to adjust to the speed and strength of the pro game. He looks to have upside as a potential middle six contributor for Anaheim in the future.

11. Carey Terrance

Terrance is a speedy and versatile two-way forward. Moving forward, the key for Terrance is finding consistency offensively. If he can find a way to truly unlock his speed and improve his puck skill and carrying ability, Terrance could end up improving his outlook and upside as a pro. If not, he could still end up a very valuable bottom six player and penalty killer ala Paul Byron.

12. Yegor Sidorov

Sidorov just keeps getting better and it’s improving his outlook and progression as an NHL player. He upped his physical intensity level and it resulted in greater consistency as a scorer and play driver. Sidorov is highly creative with the puck and his quick release gives him great upside as a scorer at the pro level. Sidorov will turn pro next year, likely playing in the AHL in order to adjust to the pace of the pro game and the size/strength of pro level players.

13. Sasha Pastujov

His transition to the pro level has definitely been a bit of a bumpy ride. However, Pastujov closed out last year on a major high and that’s provided a lot of optimism about his future. Pastujov is still such a dangerous player in small spaces because of his quick hands and quick release. Ultimately, how much he can improve his skating and off-puck play will be the key to him becoming an NHL player in the future for the Ducks.

14. Tyson Hinds

Much to the surprise of no one, Hinds, the former winner of the QMJHL’s Kevin Lowe trophy (as the QMJHL’s top defensive defender), was an immediately impactful player on the defensive side of things at the pro level last year. However, his offensive game showed some growing pains and that will be the focus in his second pro year, to improve his decision making and confidence with the puck.

15. Maxim Masse

An early third round selection by Anaheim in 2024, Masse was originally thought to be the top player eligible from the QMJHL, but he slipped to 66th due to concerns over his pace and skating ability. A confident goal scorer, Masse will look to round out his game and improve his quickness in the QMJHL this coming season. Similar to the chance Anaheim took on Sasha Pastujov, the Ducks will be hoping Masse can eventually contribute as a middle six winger.

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #7 Anaheim Ducks – Organization Overview – Top 15 Prospects

Player Profiles - Brock Otten, Team Overview - Robert Howard — Sat, 08 Jun 2024 15:04:53 +0000

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Anaheim Ducks defenseman Olen Zellweger (51) skates with the puck during an NHL game against the Los Angeles Kings on April 13, 2024 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire)

The Anaheim Ducks have now missed the playoffs for six straight years, never finishing higher than sixth in their division. In the second season under GM Pat Verbeek, he continued much as he did in his first, moving out veterans at the deadline for picks and prospects. This year saw Sam Carrick and Adam Henrique end up on the Oilers for a first-round pick and a fifth. The years of futility have returned high draft pick after high draft pick and 2024 will be no different with the third overall pick. They have now picked second overall (2023 – Leo Carlsson), 10th (2022 – Pavel Mintyukov), third (2021 – Mason McTavish), sixth (2020 – Jamie Drysdale) and ninth (2019 – Trevor Zegras). All of those picks have graduated to the NHL, yet the organization ranks seventh among NHL teams in prospect strength, leaving arguably the deepest group of young potential stars in the league. Drysdale (along with a second-round pick) was moved for the 4th overall ranked affiliated prospect in Cutter Gauthier, and he is expected to make an impact in the NHL as soon as next season. A second-round pick in 2021, Olen Zellweger (ranked 15th by McKeens), is also on the cusp of making the team after appearing in 26 games last year.

The Ducks have the most graduations in the last five drafts in the NHL. That will not change anytime soon, as next year’s third overall pick will be a high-end player that should see the NHL before too long joining Gauthier and Zellweger. They are also in no danger of falling out of the rankings for the best prospect pool with seven picks in the first three rounds of the 2024 NHL Draft. They also have a deep pool to draw on with nine of their top ten prospects ranked with our top 200.

RNK	PLAYER	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	Acquired	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Cutter Gauthier	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	T(Phi-1/24)	41	38	27	65	18
2	Olen Zellweger	D	20	5-9/180	San Diego (AHL)	`21(34th)	44	12	25	37	16
					Anaheim (NHL)	`21(34th)	26	2	7	9	4
3	Tristan Luneau	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	`22(53rd)	7	1	2	3	4
					San Diego (AHL)	`22(53rd)	6	0	2	2	2
4	Nathan Gaucher	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	`22(22nd)	72	10	15	25	68
5	Rodwin Dionicio	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	`23(129th)	60	25	48	73	108
6	Damian Clara	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	`23(60th)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
7	Yegor Sidorov	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	`23(85th)	66	50	38	88	66
8	Carey Terrance	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	`23(59th)	56	29	23	52	25
9	Sam Colangelo	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	`20(36th)	38	24	19	43	23
10	Sasha Pastujov	RW	20	6-0/187	San Diego (AHL)	`21(66th)	46	10	13	23	14
11	Tyson Hinds	D	21	6-3/188	San Diego (AHL)	`21(76th)	71	2	8	10	42
12	Nico Myatovic	LW	19	6-2/180	Seattle (WHL)	`23(33rd)	34	9	21	30	20
13	Coulson Pitre	RW	19	6-1/170	Flint (OHL)	`23(65th)	55	27	28	55	41
14	Noah Warren	D	19	6-4/216	Victoriaville (QMJHL)	`22(42nd)	50	6	7	13	35
15	Drew Helleson	D	23	6-3/205	San Diego (AHL)	T(Col-3/22)	59	4	14	18	44

1. Cutter Gauthier, LW, Boston College (NCAA)

The Ducks and Flyers shocked the hockey world when they pulled off a blockbuster at the beginning of January. Anaheim sent often injured young defender Jamie Drysdale to Philadelphia in return for top prospect Cutter Gauthier. Coming off a gold medal victory with Team USA at the IIHF World Juniors, and named the best forward and an all-star, he has vaulted to the top of Anaheim’s star-studded prospect pool. He’s had a remarkable sophomore season for Boston College and is a Hobey Baker candidate. His 37 goals are the second most scored in the NCAA in the last 25 years. He excels as a North/South attacker because of his strong skating ability, coupled with his dynamic goal scoring ability. Whether he plays center or wing at the pro level remains to be seen, regardless where he plays, his two-way ability shows significant potential. Unquestionably turning pro at the conclusion of this season, he could be an impact player as early as next year.

2. Olen Zellweger, D, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

Zellweger’s transition to the pro level has been pretty seamless and it resulted in a late season call up. An AHL all-star this season, Anaheim was able to be patient with Olen given their depth and position in the standings. This has helped him gain confidence in his ability to defend at the pro level, which was the only truly questionable part of his game coming into the year. There was no question about his offensive ability, but could he excel in the defensive end? The answer to that question has been yes…at least at the AHL level. A tremendous four-way mover, Zellweger rarely gets boxed in the defensive zone and is a breakout machine. He also uses said mobility to quarterback the powerplay with remarkably efficiency. A heads-up passer and high IQ player, it seems inevitable he will become a high-end offensive defender at the NHL level…perhaps as early as next season. His ability to add strength and improve his physical intensity will dictate his ultimate ceiling as a two-way player.

3. Tristan Luneau, D, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

It’s been a bit of a year to forget for Luneau. The former QMJHL defender of the year started well and even earned ice time in Anaheim. He was then loaned to Team Canada for the World Junior Championships and that’s when things went downhill. Luneau contracted the flu, then acquired a serious knee infection that saw him hospitalized. This effectively ended his season. But such a flukey thing does not tarnish Luneau’s upside or his likelihood of becoming a high-end NHL defender. The strong skating, two-way defender is a high-end processor whose offensive game and puck carrying ability have improved greatly since being selected in the second round. He will never be confused for a physical stalwart, but he uses his mobility and defensive awareness to keep the play in front of him. While there is hope he can battle for a roster spot, this year’s issues may cause Anaheim to be patient, meaning that an AHL stint may be in store just as it was for Zellweger this season.

4. Nathan Gaucher, C, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

Gaucher is finishing up his first season as a pro with San Diego of the AHL and the offensive numbers don’t jump off the page at you. That said, Gaucher was never drafted to be an offensive juggernaut. With terrific speed, strength, and two-way awareness, the plan all along was for him to develop into a versatile middle six player for Anaheim who could help shut down the opposition’s best. While the offensive game has been inconsistent as a rookie pro, the defensive and physical components of his game have still earned praise and that’s what is most important. Anaheim is likely to let Gaucher repeat in the AHL next season, with the goal of improving his offensive production. Then they can ease him into the big club’s lineup slowly in a bottom six role in the future when his offensive confidence is at its highest.

5. Rodwin Dionicio, D, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

The selection of Dionicio as a draft re-entry last year is bearing some pretty spectacular fruit early on. Dionicio has emerged as one of the OHL’s top defenders and will be playing for a Memorial Cup with the Saginaw Spirit later in May. Dionicio is an electrifying offensive talent. He routinely carries the puck from end to end, showcasing his high-end puck skill and creativity. As a powerplay quarterback, he consistently helps to breakdown coverage with his ability to work inside, beating pressure at the point. Dionicio is also a highly physical player who has a penchant for the big hit and who makes opposing players earn touches and open space when he is on the ice. The decision making still wavers; he is and can be a high risk/high reward player. As such, the transition to the pro level could be challenging for him. However, with patience, he could become a very productive and entertaining NHL player.

6. Damian Clara, G, Brynas IF (HockeyAllsvenskan)

The Big Italian netminder has had an excellent draft plus one year in Sweden playing for Brynas of the Allsvenskan. Despite being only 19, he established himself as one of the top netminders in the league and was subsequently named the league’s top junior (or new player/ROY). He also helped Brynas get promoted to the SHL after posting a .931 SV% and a 1.68 GAA in the Allsvenskan playoffs. An excellent athlete for his size, Clara has terrific upside as an NHL netminder, a reason why he was selected in the second round by the Ducks last year. Next year, Clara will take his talents to the SHL with Farjestad; a logical stepping stone to one day playing in the NHL. If he can replicate his success in the SHL, he’ll push his way to the top of many goaltending prospect lists.

7. Yegor Sidorov, RW, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Sidorov just keeps getting better and it’s improving his outlook and progression as an NHL player. His 50 goals this year for Saskatoon put him in a tie for fourth in the WHL. Sidorov also currently leads the WHL playoffs in goal scoring, as of writing this profile. He upped his physical intensity level and it resulted in greater consistency as a scorer and play driver. Sidorov is highly creative with the puck and his quick release gives him great upside as a scorer at the pro level. Recently signed by the Ducks, Sidorov will turn pro next year, likely playing in the AHL in order to adjust to the pace of the pro game and the size/strength of pro level players. Realistically, Sidorov is a bit of a boom or bust prospect. His goal scoring prowess will either translate to the NHL level and he'll end up as a top six forward and powerplay option, or he'll end up overseas as a scoring option in a Euro league.

8. Carey Terrance, C, Erie Otters (OHL)

One of the OHL’s most underrated players, Terrance had a good year for the Erie Otters even if he failed to hit the point per game mark. Because of his speed and strong two-way commitment level, he brings such versatility to his coaches. Offensively, his best asset is his shot, something that helped him score 29 goals and lead Erie in goal scoring this year. Terrance also was a member of the U.S.’ gold medal winning WJC squad, but he did not see game action. Moving forward, the key for Terrance is finding consistency offensively. If he can find a way to truly unlock his speed and improve his puck skill and carrying ability, Terrance could end up improving his outlook and upside as a pro. If not, he could still end up a very valuable bottom six player and penalty killer ala Paul Byron.

9. Sam Colangelo, RW, Western Michigan University (NCAA)

Lots of discussion about the NCAA’s transfer portal in recent months, but it’s designed to help players like Colangelo. It was obvious that his game had plateaued at Northeastern, and a move to Western Michigan helped to truly unlock Colangelo's potential as a power forward. He led WMU in goal scoring this year and has worked hard to put himself back on the map as a potential middle six player for the Ducks in the future. Recently signed, Colangelo finished out the year at the pro level with Anaheim and San Diego, even scoring his first NHL goal. He did not look out of place, which should come as no surprise given that his transition to the pro level should be pretty seamless because of his strength, strong two-way ability, and high IQ.

10. Sasha Pastujov, RW, San Diego Gulls (AHL)

Given Pastujov’s lack of dynamic skating ability, there was certainly some concern heading into his first pro season this year. Just how well would he transition to the AHL? It’s definitely been a bit of a bumpy ride. The first half was mired with inconsistency and a lower body injury, but he actually closed out the year on a major high and that’s provided a lot of optimism about his future. Pastujov is still such a dangerous player in small spaces because of his quick hands and quick release. He’s active in puck pursuit in the offensive end and continues to work hard to improve his quickness. Ultimately, how much he can improve his skating and off puck play will be the key to him becoming an NHL player in the future for the Ducks.

PROSPECT CRITERIA: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 games (30 for goalies) and less than 25 in one season (25 for goalies).

MCKEEN’S 2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 30 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 01 Jun 2024 12:22:26 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first, this ranking, follows the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Our team of 16 scouts are based in key markets around the world, in the rinks, supported by video scouting. They utilize some terrific tools from Hudl/InStat, which can isolate so many aspects of a player’s game, along with proprietary statistics. They spend countless hours in rinks and in front of screens and are deeply familiar with these players and their progression. Our management team of Brock Otten (Director of Scouting) and Derek Neumeier (Assistant Director of Scouting/Senior Western Regional Scout), along with Video Scouting Coordinator, Josh Bell, will take the teams input and finalize the list you see below. Brock, Derek and Josh are responsible for the player write-ups in the Prospect Guide.

The organizational rankings are based on an algorithm that takes into account how many prospects are ranked within the top 200. The teams are broken down by the number of prospects in our top 1 -25, 26 - 50, 51 - 100, and 101 - 200. A weight is attached to each group and then some subjective tweaking is done based on our knowledge of the players. There can be a wider discrepancy in the top 25 group than the latter groupings that needs to be taken into account.

Here is our definition of an NHL prospect: Players under 26 years of age as of 9/15/2024 who have appeared in less than 60 NHL games (30 for goalies) and less than 35 in one season (25 for goalies).

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft. We are releasing out top 30 NHL Prospects free to non-subscribers. If you want to learn more, link here.

Subscribers can link to the full top 200 listing here

Here is an excerpt of Brock Otten's Risers and Fallers article from the magazine to give you more perspective and a little taste of our content.

The best part of scouting is the somewhat unpredictable nature of human development. Some players improve dramatically from one year to the next…others do not. When we compare the rankings from our 2023-24 NHL Yearbook (where we did a Top 300 prospect ranking) to now, these are the players who have risen/fallen the most.

Risers

DALLAS, TX - APRIL 22: Dallas Stars center Logan Stankoven (11) reacts to a goal score during game one of the Western Conference First Round between the Dallas Stars and the Vegas Golden Knights on April 22, 2024 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Stankoven (27 to 5) - Dallas Stars

Stankoven’s jump from one of the best players in the WHL to one of the best players in the AHL has been impressive. So has his quick start in the NHL.

Ryan Leonard (32 to 6) – Washington Capitals

Leonard is returning to Boston College after a Championship barely eluded him this year. However, he has proven to be an elite play driver to go with his strong off puck play.

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 11: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Joshua Roy (89) during warm-up before the St. Louis Blues versus the Montreal Canadiens game on February 11, 2024, at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Josh Roy (63 to 35) – Montreal Canadiens

Roy continues to prove doubters wrong after a terrific AHL season with Laval. His skill set has become so well rounded since being drafted.

Conor Geekie (68 to 18) – Utah

Geekie’s power game from the middle of the ice makes him such an interesting prospect for today’s NHL. His skating continues to improve.

Mavrik Bourque (79 to 23) – Dallas Stars

Bourque emerged as one of the best players in the AHL this season as a sophomore professional. He’s ready to take that next step with the Stars.

Gabe Perreault (86 to 19) – New York Rangers

Once thought to be the third wheel on the talented Will Smith/Ryan Leonard threesome, Perreault’s progression as a play driver at Boston College this season has altered the perception that he can be a front-line NHL player.

Bradly Nadeau (109 to 34) – Carolina Hurricanes

Drafting early out of the BCHL has yielded inconsistent results, however Nadeau was exceptional as a freshman at Maine. Did he leave school too early though?

Jagger Firkus (112 to 47) – Seattle Kraken

Firkus took his game to another level this year in his final WHL season, leading the league in scoring. He’s ready to be a pro.

Gavin Brindley (122 to 66) – Columbus Blue Jackets

One of the most improved players in the NCAA this year, Brindley emerged as a star for the University of Michigan and really altered his projection as a potential top six forward.

Quentin Musty (125 to 51) – San Jose Sharks

The dynamic American winger worked hard to fine tune components of his game in Sudbury this year and deserves a bump for improving his consistency.

Jani Nyman (135 to 81) – Seattle Kraken

Nyman emerged as one of the top goal scorers in Finland this season as a U20 player. This, combined with his strong WJC performance, has helped push him up our board north.

Logan Mailloux (145 to 45) – Montreal Canadiens

Mailloux proved to be way more refined at the AHL level than previously perceived. Simply put, he was one of the best defensive prospects in the AHL this year.

Josh Doan (153 to 55) - Utah

What a terrific story to the end of the Coyotes franchise. Doan emerged as a potential star this season and finished the year strong in the NHL, scoring in his debut.

Riley Heidt (157 to 44) – Minnesota Wild

We still don’t understand how Heidt fell as far as he did in the 2023 draft, however he is proving NHL scouts wrong thus far after a remarkable year with Prince George.

Ville Koivunen (165 to 71) – Pittsburgh Penguins

The main piece of the Jake Guentzel to Carolina deal, Koivunen emerged as one of the top players in Liiga this year.

Ethan Del Mastro (169 to 73) – Chicago Blackhawks

There was little doubt that Del Mastro’s strong defensive ability would translate to the AHL level well, but he continues to improve offensively and that has altered his projection.

Theo Lindstein (185 to 91) – St. Louis Blues

Lindstein’s strong year for Brynas has helped to elevate his upside as a two-way defender. We may have ranked him too low in our 2023 Draft Rankings.

Carson Rehkopf (201 to 69) – Seattle Kraken

Consistency off the puck and a lack of engagement held Rehkopf back last year. This year marked improvement in those areas helped him emerge as a top offensive talent in the OHL.

Easton Cowan (204 to 67) – Toronto Maple Leafs

One of the surprises of the 2023 draft, Cowan set a new OHL record with a 42-game point streak. More than just a high energy guy now, he can be a difference maker offensively.

Seamus Casey (214 to 63) – New Jersey Devils

Casey continues to improve in the NCAA. He may not have elite size, but he has everything else, and it has the Devils excited about his future.

Jacob Fowler (222 to 52) – Montreal Canadiens

Fowler compiled a list of accolades as a freshman this year at Boston College, emerging as one of the top goaltending prospects in the game.

Fraser Minten (226 to 84) – Toronto Maple Leafs

After starting the year with the Leafs, Minten returned to the WHL and ended up captaining Canada at the World Juniors.

Jackson Blake (277 to 117) – Carolina Hurricanes

A finalist for the Hobey Baker this year, Blake became an NCAA star for North Dakota, and he now turns pro.

Erik Portillo (Unranked to 118) – Los Angeles Kings

Acquired by the Kings, Portillo turned pro after three years at Michigan and he was one of the best goaltenders in the AHL as a first-year pro.

Rodwin Dionicio (Unranked to 139) – Anaheim Ducks

Dionicio still plays a high risk, high reward game from the back end, but his offensive upside has become too large to ignore.

Fallers

EDM - Xavier Bourgault

Xavier Bourgault (from 48 to 113) – Edmonton Oilers

After a mediocre first professional year last season, Bourgault was even more disappointing as a sophomore with Bakersfield. The Oilers just haven’t been developing prospects well in recent years.

Eduard Sale (72 to 140) – Seattle Kraken

Sale’s first year in North America did not go according to plan as he struggled to be a consistent impact player in the OHL.

Jack Rathbone (96 to not ranked) – Pittsburgh Penguins

Perhaps we ranked Rathbone too aggressively this summer, but not only did he fail to earn a spot on Vancouver, but he’s now an NHL after thought after entering Pittsburgh’s organization via trade.

Jacob Perreault (127 to not ranked) – Montreal Canadiens

Perreault’s off puck play and skating just haven’t improved to the point where he can be a consistent pro and it caused the Ducks to move on from him, trading him to Montreal.

Jan Jenik (156 to not ranked) - Utah

Once a highly ranked prospect, Jenik continues to fall. He just hasn’t been able to take that next step and even passed through waivers this year unclaimed.

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17

2024 NHL PROSPECTS REPORT: TOP 200 NHL PROSPECTS

McKeen's Hockey — Sat, 25 May 2024 17:02:31 +0000

At McKeen’s Hockey we do a ranked affiliated prospect list twice a season. Our first is following the end of the regular season for most prospects but does not include the playoffs. It is a ranking of the top 200, plus the top 15 by team, prior to the NHL Draft. Once the NHL Draft is complete, we begin the process of updating the organizational ranking to a top 20, and then rank the top 300. That is completed in August, once the dust has settled on free agency, and any trades that are made in the meantime. We include that ranking in our McKeen’s NHL Yearbook, published in late August, Early September.

Check back in with us in the fall to see how things change following the draft.

Subscribers can link to the listing here

RNK	PLAYER	NHL	POS	AGE	HT/WT	TM	GP	G(W)	A(L)	PTS(GAA)	PIM(SPCT)
1	Will Smith	SJ	C	19	6-0/175	Boston College (HE)	41	25	46	71	14
2	Matvei Michkov	Phi	RW	19	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg-HK Sochi (KHL)	48	19	22	41	26
3	Brandt Clarke	LA	D	21	6-2/185	Los Angeles (NHL)	16	2	4	6	10
4	Cutter Gauthier	Ana	LW	20	6-2/190	Boston College (HE)	41	38	27	65	18
5	Logan Stankoven	Dal	C	21	5-8/170	Dallas (NHL)	24	6	8	14	4
6	Ryan Leonard	Wsh	RW	19	5-11/190	Boston College (HE)	41	31	29	60	38
7	Alexander Nikishin	Car	D	22	6-3/195	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	67	17	39	56	39
8	Yaroslav Askarov	Nsh	G	21	6-3/175	Milwaukee (AHL)	44	30	13	2.39	0.911
9	Jesper Wallstedt	Min	G	21	6-3/215	Iowa (AHL)	45	22	19	2.70	0.910
10	Matthew Savoie	Buf	C	20	5-9/179	Wen-MJ (WHL)	34	30	41	71	10
11	Simon Edvinsson	Det	D	21	6-6/215	Detroit (NHL)	16	1	1	2	4
12	Jonathan Lekkerimaki	Van	RW	19	5-11/170	Orebro (SHL)	46	19	12	31	10
13	Dustin Wolf	Cgy	G	23	6-0/166	Calgary (AHL)	36	20	12	2.45	0.922
14	Devon Levi	Buf	G	21	6-0/192	Rochester (AHL)	26	16	6	2.42	0.927
15	Olen Zellweger	Ana	D	20	5-9/180	Anaheim (NHL)	26	2	7	9	4
16	Dmitri Simashev	Ari	D	19	6-4/198	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	63	4	6	10	18
17	David Reinbacher	Mtl	D	19	6-2/185	Kloten (Sui-NL)	35	1	10	11	18
18	Conor Geekie	Ari	C	19	6-3/193	Wen-SC (WHL)	55	43	56	99	66
19	Gabe Perreault	NYR	RW	18	5-11/165	Boston College (HE)	36	19	41	60	29
20	Daniil But	Ari	LW	19	6-5/203	Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (KHL)	55	10	11	21	10
21	Shane Wright	Sea	C	20	6-0/200	Coachella Valley (AHL)	59	22	25	47	18
22	Jiri Kulich	Buf	C	20	6-1/186	Rochester (AHL)	57	27	18	45	26
23	Mavrik Bourque	Dal	C	22	5-10/190	Texas (AHL)	71	26	51	77	32
24	Nate Danielson	Det	C	19	6-2/185	Bdn-Por (WHL)	54	24	43	67	42
25	Danila Yurov	Min	RW	19	6-1/175	Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	62	21	28	49	35
26	Brennan Othmann	NYR	LW	21	6-0/175	Hartford (AHL)	67	21	28	49	65
27	Lane Hutson	Mtl	D	20	5-10/160	Boston University (HE)	38	15	34	49	24
28	Tom Willander	Van	D	19	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	38	4	21	25	12
29	Marco Kasper	Det	C	20	6-1/185	Grand Rapids (AHL)	71	14	21	35	30
30	Dalibor Dvorsky	StL	C	18	6-1/200	Sudbury (OHL)	52	45	43	88	17
31	Brad Lambert	Wpg	C	20	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	64	21	34	55	38
32	Ivan Miroshnichenko	Wsh	LW	20	6-1/185	Washington (NHL)	21	2	4	6	6
33	Axel Sandin Pellikka	Det	D	19	5-11/180	Skelleftea (SHL)	39	10	8	18	17
34	Bradly Nadeau	Car	LW	18	5-10/165	Maine (HE)	37	19	27	46	12
35	Joshua Roy	Mtl	RW	20	6-0/190	Montreal (NHL)	23	4	5	9	0
36	Denton Mateychuk	CBJ	D	19	5-11/190	Moose Jaw (WHL)	52	17	58	75	31
37	Brayden Yager	Pit	C	19	5-11/165	Moose Jaw (WHL)	57	35	60	95	20
38	Calum Ritchie	Col	C	19	6-2/185	Oshawa (OHL)	50	28	52	80	20
39	Joakim Kemell	Nsh	RW	20	5-10/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	67	16	25	41	23
40	Colby Barlow	Wpg	LW	19	6-0/195	Owen Sound (OHL)	50	40	18	58	27
41	Jimmy Snuggerud	StL	RW	19	6-1/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	21	13	34	42
42	Matthew Coronato	Cgy	RW	21	5-10/183	Calgary (NHL)	34	3	6	9	4
43	Frank Nazar	Chi	C	20	5-10/180	Michigan (B1G)	41	17	24	41	18
44	Riley Heidt	Min	C	19	5-10/180	Prince George (WHL)	66	37	80	117	42
45	Logan Mailloux	Mtl	D	21	6-3/215	Laval (AHL)	72	14	33	47	91
46	Sebastian Cossa	Det	G	21	6-6/229	Grand Rapids (AHL)	40	22	9	2.41	0.913
47	Jagger Firkus	Sea	RW	20	5-10/155	Moose Jaw (WHL)	63	61	65	126	30
48	Mikhail Gulyayev	Col	D	19	5-11/170	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	64	4	8	12	8
49	Scott Morrow	Car	D	21	6-2/195	Massachusetts (HE)	37	6	24	30	25
50	Matthew Wood	Nsh	RW	19	6-3/195	Connecticut (HE)	35	16	12	28	43
51	Quentin Musty	SJ	LW	18	6-2/200	Sudbury (OHL)	53	43	59	102	72
52	Jacob Fowler	Mtl	G	19	6-1/215	Boston College (HE)	39	32	6	2.14	0.926
53	Fabian Lysell	Bos	RW	21	5-11/181	Providence (AHL)	56	15	35	50	37
54	Shakir Mukhamadullin	SJ	D	22	6-3/180	San Jose (AHL)	55	7	27	34	24
55	Josh Doan	Ari	RW	22	6-1/183	Arizona (NHL)	11	5	4	9	0
56	Thomas Bordeleau	SJ	C	22	5-9/180	San Jose (NHL)	27	6	5	11	18
57	Lian Bichsel	Dal	D	19	6-6/233	Rogle (SHL)	29	2	2	4	28
58	Nikolai Kovalenko	Col	RW	24	5-10/180	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	42	11	24	35	30
59	Aatu Raty	Van	C	21	6-2/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	72	18	34	52	18
60	Oliver Moore	Chi	C	19	5-11/185	Minnesota (B1G)	39	9	24	33	8
61	Samuel Honzek	Cgy	LW	19	6-4/186	Vancouver (WHL)	33	10	21	31	18
62	Jakob Pelletier	Cgy	LW	23	5-9/170	Calgary (NHL)	13	1	2	3	2
63	Seamus Casey	NJ	D	20	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	7	38	45	14
64	Tristan Luneau	Ana	D	20	6-1/195	Anaheim (NHL)	7	1	2	3	4
65	Chaz Lucius	Wpg	C	20	6-1/185	Manitoba (AHL)	17	2	11	13	6
66	Gavin Brindley	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Michigan (B1G)	40	25	28	53	28
67	Easton Cowan	Tor	RW	18	5-10/170	London (OHL)	54	34	62	96	64
68	Zachary L'Heureux	Nsh	LW	20	5-11/195	Milwaukee (AHL)	66	19	29	48	197
69	Carson Rehkopf	Sea	LW	19	6-1/195	Kitchener (OHL)	60	52	43	95	45
70	Filip Bystedt	SJ	C	20	6-4/205	Linkopings (SHL)	47	8	9	17	2
71	Ville Koivunen	Pit	LW	20	6-0/175	Karpat (Fin-Liiga)	59	22	34	56	26
72	Noah Ostlund	Buf	C	20	5-11/163	Vaxjo Lakers (SHL)	38	12	11	23	4
73	Ethan Del Mastro	Chi	D	21	6-4/210	Rockford (AHL)	69	7	30	37	54
74	Lukas Cormier	VGK	D	22	5-10/180	Henderson (AHL)	58	4	16	20	33
75	Liam Ohgren	Min	LW	20	6-1/200	Farjestads (SHL)	26	12	7	19	12
76	Marat Khusnutdinov	Min	C	21	5-11/175	Minnesota (NHL)	16	1	3	4	6
77	Mackie Samoskevich	Fla	RW	21	5-11/190	Charlotte (AHL)	62	22	32	54	24
78	Stanislav Svozil	CBJ	D	21	6-1/180	Cleveland (AHL)	57	5	18	23	24
79	Zachary Bolduc	StL	LW	21	6-1/175	St. Louis (NHL)	25	5	4	9	6
80	Rutger McGroarty	Wpg	LW	20	6-1/200	Michigan (B1G)	36	16	36	52	6
81	Jani Nyman	Sea	RW	19	6-3/215	Ilves (Fin-Liiga)	48	26	17	43	2
82	Andrew Cristall	Wsh	LW	19	5-9/165	Kelowna (WHL)	62	40	71	111	46
83	Oliver Bonk	Phi	D	19	6-2/175	London (OHL)	60	24	43	67	32
84	Fraser Minten	Tor	C	19	6-1/185	Kam-Sas (WHL)	43	22	26	48	25
85	Tanner Molendyk	Nsh	D	19	5-11/185	Saskatoon (WHL)	50	10	46	56	18
86	David Goyette	Sea	C	20	5-10/175	Sudbury (OHL)	68	40	77	117	29
87	David Edstrom	SJ	C	19	6-3/185	Frolunda (SHL)	44	7	12	19	8
88	Anton Wahlberg	Buf	C	18	6-3/194	Malmo (SHL)	43	5	5	10	4
89	Emil Andrae	Phi	D	22	5-9/185	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	61	5	27	32	66
90	Trey Augustine	Det	G	19	6-1/185	Michigan State (B1G)	35	23	9	2.96	0.915
91	Theo Lindstein	StL	D	19	6-0/180	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	49	4	11	15	4
92	Mads Sogaard	Ott	G	23	6-7/195	Belleville (AHL)	32	18	9	2.45	0.916
93	Isak Rosen	Buf	RW	21	6-0/175	Rochester (AHL)	67	20	30	50	12
94	Maveric Lamoureux	Ari	D	20	6-7/214	Drummondville (QMJHL)	39	9	24	33	53
95	Drew Commesso	Chi	G	21	6-2/180	Rockford (AHL)	38	18	16	2.65	0.906
96	Ville Heinola	Wpg	D	23	6-0/180	Manitoba (AHL)	41	10	17	27	24
97	Carter Mazur	Det	LW	22	6-0/170	Grand Rapids (AHL)	60	17	20	37	48
98	Otto Stenberg	StL	C	18	5-11/180	Frolunda (SHL)	31	3	3	6	8
99	Egor Afanasyev	Nsh	LW	23	6-3/205	Milwaukee (AHL)	56	27	27	54	60
100	Nikita Chibrikov	Wpg	RW	21	5-10/170	Manitoba (AHL)	70	17	30	47	53
101	Zach Dean	StL	C	21	6-0/175	Springfield (AHL)	49	9	5	14	24
102	William Dufour	NYI	RW	22	6-2/195	Bridgeport (AHL)	55	15	10	25	35
103	Sam Rinzel	Chi	D	19	6-4/180	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	26	28	20
104	Joel Blomqvist	Pit	G	22	6-2/185	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	45	25	12	2.16	0.921
105	Arseni Gritsyuk	NJ	RW	23	5-10/170	SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)	50	19	19	38	8
106	Corson Ceulemans	CBJ	D	20	6-2/200	Cleveland (AHL)	47	3	9	12	12
107	Michael Hrabal	Ari	G	19	6-6/209	Massachusetts (HE)	30	16	12	2.59	0.912
108	Brendan Brisson	VGK	C	22	5-11/180	Vegas (NHL)	15	2	6	8	2
109	Owen Pickering	Pit	D	20	6-4/180	Swift Current (WHL)	59	7	39	46	35
110	Owen Beck	Mtl	C	20	5-11/185	Pbo-Sag (OHL)	57	34	47	81	18
111	William Wallinder	Det	D	21	6-4/190	Grand Rapids (AHL)	65	3	12	15	10
112	Xavier Bourgault	Edm	C	21	6-0/170	Bakersfield (AHL)	55	8	12	20	24
113	Jordan Dumais	CBJ	RW	20	5-8/165	Halifax (QMJHL)	21	16	31	47	6
114	Aleksi Heimosalmi	Car	D	20	5-11/170	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	47	2	14	16	12
115	Brandon Bussi	Bos	G	25	6-4/218	Providence (AHL)	41	23	10	2.67	0.913
116	Jackson Blake	Car	RW	20	5-10/160	North Dakota (NCHC)	40	22	38	60	26
117	Erik Portillo	LA	G	23	6-6/210	Ontario (AHL)	39	24	11	2.50	0.918
118	Sean Farrell	Mtl	C	22	5-8/175	Laval (AHL)	47	9	19	28	10
119	Kasper Halttunen	SJ	RW	18	6-3/205	London (OHL)	57	32	29	61	61
120	Topi Niemela	Tor	D	22	5-11/165	Toronto (AHL)	68	8	31	39	43
121	Ethan Gauthier	TB	RW	19	5-11/175	Drummondville (QMJHL)	64	36	35	71	42
122	Daniil Miromanov	Cgy	D	26	6-4/200	VGK-Cgy (NHL)	24	3	4	7	8
123	Ruslan Iskhakov	NYI	C	23	5-8/155	Bridgeport (AHL)	69	18	32	50	30
124	Shai Buium	Det	D	21	6-3/210	Denver (NCHC)	43	7	29	36	14
125	Jakub Dobes	Mtl	G	22	6-3/200	Laval (AHL)	51	24	18	2.93	0.906
126	Oliver Kapanen	Mtl	C	20	6-0/170	KalPa (Fin-Liiga)	51	14	20	34	32
127	Danny Nelson	NYI	C	18	6-3/200	Notre Dame (B1G)	30	9	14	23	32
128	Lenni Hameenaho	NJ	RW	19	6-0/175	Assat (Fin-Liiga)	46	14	17	31	10
129	Nick Lardis	Chi	LW	18	5-11/165	Brantford (OHL)	37	29	21	50	12
130	Ty Nelson	Sea	D	20	5-10/195	North Bay (OHL)	54	16	36	52	50
131	Isaac Howard	TB	LW	20	5-10/185	Michigan State (B1G)	36	8	28	36	10
132	Fyodor Svechkov	Nsh	C	21	6-0/185	Milwaukee (AHL)	57	16	23	39	18
133	Jeremie Poirier	Cgy	D	21	6-1/196	Calgary (AHL)	23	3	10	13	22
134	Reid Schaefer	Nsh	LW	20	6-3/215	Milwaukee (AHL)	63	7	14	21	39
135	Zack Ostapchuk	Ott	C	20	6-3/205	Belleville (AHL)	69	17	11	28	47
136	Nathan Gaucher	Ana	C	20	6-3/207	San Diego (AHL)	72	10	15	25	68
137	Rodwin Dionicio	Ana	D	20	6-2/207	Wsr-Sag (OHL)	60	25	48	73	108
138	Eduard Sale	Sea	LW	19	6-1/170	Bar-Kit (OHL)	49	15	23	38	8
139	Danil Gushchin	SJ	RW	22	5-8/165	San Jose (AHL)	56	20	34	54	24
140	Sean Behrens	Col	D	21	5-10/175	Denver (NCHC)	44	4	27	31	53
141	Christian Kyrou	Dal	D	20	5-10/170	Texas (AHL)	57	8	15	23	22
142	Niklas Kokko	Sea	G	20	6-3/185	Pelicans (Fin-Liiga)	13	9	0	1.49	0.926
143	Vasily Ponomarev	Pit	C	22	5-10/180	Tuc-Chi-WBS (AHL)	45	9	21	30	16
144	Ryan Winterton	Sea	RW	20	6-2/190	Coachella Valley (AHL)	58	22	13	35	23
145	Dmitri Buchelnikov	Det	LW	20	5-10/165	Admiral Vladivostok (KHL)	55	13	16	29	8
146	Oscar Fisker Molgaard	Sea	C	19	6-0/165	HV 71 (SHL)	50	9	12	21	6
147	Aku Raty	Ari	RW	22	6-1/190	Tucson (AHL)	55	15	29	44	22
148	Matyas Sapovaliv	VGK	C	20	6-3/180	Saginaw (OHL)	54	19	43	62	22
149	Georgii Merkulov	Bos	C	23	5-11/175	Providence (AHL)	67	30	35	65	20
150	Topias Vilen	NJ	D	21	6-1/195	Utica (AHL)	54	2	27	29	16
151	Ryan Chesley	Wsh	D	20	6-0/200	Minnesota (B1G)	39	2	6	8	19
152	Jayden Perron	Car	RW	19	5-9/165	North Dakota (NCHC)	39	11	7	18	8
153	Tristen Robins	SJ	C	22	5-10/175	San Jose (AHL)	42	7	11	18	12
154	Calle Odelius	NYI	D	19	6-0/190	Djurgardens (HockeyAllsvenskan)	10	0	4	4	2
155	Vincent Iorio	Wsh	D	21	6-2/190	Hershey (AHL)	60	4	10	14	30
156	Raphael Lavoie	Edm	RW	23	6-4/215	Bakersfield (AHL)	66	28	22	50	64
157	Ronnie Attard	Phi	D	25	6-3/210	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	48	10	17	27	37
158	Niko Huuhtanen	TB	RW	20	6-2/205	Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)	52	19	27	46	46
159	Carson Bjarnason	Phi	G	18	6-3/185	Brandon (WHL)	46	24	17	3.01	0.907
160	Lukas Dragicevic	Sea	D	19	6-1/190	Tri-City (WHL)	66	14	36	50	52
161	Leevi Merilainen	Ott	G	21	6-2/160	Belleville (AHL)	24	10	9	2.87	0.906
162	Tyler Kleven	Ott	D	22	6-4/200	Belleville (AHL)	53	5	16	21	51
163	Hunter Brzustewicz	Cgy	D	19	5-11/185	Kitchener (OHL)	67	13	79	92	24
164	Ryan Greene	Chi	C	20	6-1/180	Boston University (HE)	40	12	24	36	6
165	Damian Clara	Ana	G	19	6-6/214	Brynas (HockeyAllsvenskan)	34	25	8	2.23	0.913
166	Carson Lambos	Min	D	21	6-1/200	Iowa (AHL)	69	4	10	14	64
167	Denver Barkey	Phi	C	19	5-8/160	London (OHL)	64	35	67	102	28
168	Gage Goncalves	TB	C	23	6-1/170	Syracuse (AHL)	69	13	45	58	43
169	Arshdeep Bains	Van	LW	23	6-0/185	Abbotsford (AHL)	59	16	39	55	28
170	Bogdan Konyushkov	Mtl	D	21	5-11/175	Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)	65	6	22	28	18
171	Alexei Kolosov	Phi	G	22	6-1/185	Dinamo Minsk (KHL)	47	22	21	2.39	0.907
172	Samuel Fagemo	LA	RW	24	6-0/195	Ontario (AHL)	50	43	19	62	26
173	Filip Mesar	Mtl	C	20	5-9/175	Kitchener (OHL)	45	19	33	52	12
174	Matthew Robertson	NYR	D	23	6-3/200	Hartford (AHL)	68	4	17	21	49
175	Adam Engstrom	Mtl	D	20	6-2/185	Rogle (SHL)	51	4	18	22	4
176	Michael Buchinger	StL	D	20	5-11/185	Guelph (OHL)	52	10	37	47	37
177	Semyon Chistyakov	Nsh	D	22	5-11/180	Avangard Omsk (KHL)	59	4	20	24	16
178	John Farinacci	Bos	C	23	5-11/197	Providence (AHL)	71	12	26	38	16
179	Angus Crookshank	Ott	LW	24	5-10/180	Belleville (AHL)	50	24	22	46	60
180	Yegor Sidorov	Ana	RW	19	6-0/180	Saskatoon (WHL)	66	50	38	88	66
181	Samu Tuomaala	Phi	RW	21	5-10/175	Lehigh Valley (AHL)	69	15	28	43	12
182	Logan Morrison	Sea	C	21	6-0/180	Coachella Valley (AHL)	64	16	25	41	4
183	Jean-Luc Foudy	Col	C	21	5-11/175	Colorado (AHL)	26	4	10	14	18
184	Adam Gajan	Chi	G	19	6-3/167	Green Bay (USHL)	43	23	12	3.35	0.893
185	Nolan Allan	Chi	D	21	6-2/195	Rockford (AHL)	60	5	12	17	47
186	Oskar Olausson	Col	RW	21	6-1/180	Colorado (AHL)	39	11	9	20	24
187	Samuel Poulin	Pit	C	23	6-1/205	Wilkes-Barre (AHL)	41	16	15	31	35
188	Brett Berard	NYR	LW	21	5-9/165	Hartford (AHL)	71	25	23	48	62
189	Colton Dach	Chi	C	21	6-4/205	Rockford (AHL)	48	11	15	26	39
190	Jack Thompson	SJ	D	22	6-0/180	Syr-SJ (AHL)	62	6	35	41	16
191	Riley Kidney	Mtl	C	21	5-11/170	Laval (AHL)	65	7	13	20	41
192	Roby Jarventie	Ott	RW	21	6-3/195	Belleville (AHL)	22	9	11	20	22
193	Carey Terrance	Ana	C	18	6-1/175	Erie (OHL)	56	29	23	52	25
194	Luca Del Bel Belluz	CBJ	C	20	6-1/185	Cleveland (AHL)	58	9	22	31	12
195	Luca Pinelli	CBJ	C	19	5-9/165	Ottawa (OHL)	68	48	34	82	44
196	Francesco Pinelli	LA	C	21	6-1/185	Ontario (AHL)	67	13	7	20	24
197	Elias Salomonsson	Wpg	D	19	6-1/185	Skelleftea (SHL)	31	2	9	11	58
198	Sam Colangelo	Ana	RW	21	6-2/205	Western Michigan (NCHC)	38	24	19	43	23
199	Sasha Pastujov	Ana	RW	20	6-0/185	San Diego (AHL)	46	10	13	23	14
200	Andrew Gibson	Det	D	19	6-3/195	Saul St. Marie (OHL)	68	12	32	44	58

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – ANAHEIM DUCKS – Top 20 Prospect Profiles – Organizational Rank #2

Brock Otten, Derek Neumeier, Chapin Landvogt and Josh Bell — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:44:48 +0000

Anaheim Ducks Top 20 Prospects

MONTREAL, QC - JULY 07: Anaheim Ducks pick Pavel Mintyukov shakes Gary Bettman hand during the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft on July 07, 2022 at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

1. Leo Carlsson - C

Probably one of the most NHL-ready players coming out of the 2023 draft, it was clear that the well-built 6’3” forward was a certainty to be selected between the 2nd and 6th overall pick this summer. But when Anaheim announced his name as the second overall pick, there was a sense of surprise in the air at Bridgestone Arena. The selection becomes less surprising when one considers that Carlsson has been playing SHL hockey since he was a wiry 16-year-old putting up 3-6-9 (G-A-P) numbers in 35 SHL games while already statistically dominating Sweden’s U20 circuit. Now ranked as Anaheim’s top prospect, Carlsson is coming off a year in which his 10-15-25 numbers in 44 regular season games had him only behind Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Elias Lindholm, and Niklas Backstrom (just barely) for the best ever season among first year draft-eligible players in Sweden’s top league pro league. He then proceeded to add nine playoff points to his totals. His season was further rounded off by another 3-3-6 and +5 numbers over seven WJC contests before checking in with 3-2-5 over eight games at the men’s WC. With an ELC in his pocket, a full-time move to North America could happen as soon as this fall.

2. Pavel Mintyukov - LW

The Ducks are surely over the moon that they were able to land a prospect of Mintyukov' caliber with the 10th overall pick in the 2022 draft. Not only does he possess an enormous amount of raw skill, but he also has an ideal frame and doesn't have any significant weaknesses. He went from playing on a high-flying, firewagon Saginaw team to a much more structured Ottawa club, finishing the season leading all OHL defenders in assists (64) and points (88) and winning the Max Kaminsky Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Defenseman. He shines the brightest with his offensive play and boy does he shine bright, but with the right development work he could become a premiere off-puck defender as well. If he reaches his full ceiling, he will be a true number-one defenseman who logs boatloads of ice time and contributes significantly on both sides of special teams.

3. Lukas Dostal - G

Sometimes playing on a bad team — or even two bad teams — can have its advantages. Both the Ducks and their AHL-affiliate San Diego Gulls squads struggled last season, which made it easier to give more starts to their hotshot young netminder to see what he can do. As it turns out, Dostal can do a lot, even with little to work with. That's not exactly a surprise, given his prior success in Europe, but it's been strongly reinforced more recently. His stats and record last season don't tell the whole story, as he faced high quantity – many of which were high quality - shots at both levels, pulling out some heroic performances to keep games close and even steal a few wins. He's fast, flexible, and does a great job of being controlled with his movements. His mental game is sharp and focused, while also equally competitive and calm. After getting 19 NHL games last season, look for Dostal to make the permanent jump this campaign.

4. Olen Zellweger - D

When you're a small defenseman you have to be very good in multiple areas in order to be successful in the NHL. Luckily for Zellweger (and the Ducks), not only is he good in multiple areas, but he’s also flat-out exceptional in them. His ability to see the ice and read the play in front of him is almost unparalleled for his age group, and he applies that across all 200 feet of ice, whether that's breaking pucks out of his own end, carrying them through the neutral zone, or picking spots to attack offensively. He's poised under pressure but can also unleash a killer instinct. The two-time winner of the WHL’s Top Defenseman Trophy and 2022-23 CHL Defender of the Year, Zellweger is poised to step into the pros and continue standing out.

5. Tristan Luneau - D

Luneau was the first overall pick in the 2020 QMJHL draft, and it's fair to say that he didn't quite live up to those expectations in his first two years in the league. However, the foundation was always there for him to break out, and he did that in a huge way last season, exploding for a team-high 83 points in 65 games and leading Gatineau to one of the best records in the league, resulting in him being named the QMJHL Defenseman of the Year. There's so much to like about his game: his hockey sense is impressive, he has size and reach, his footwork is clean and mechanically sound, he's dangerous with the puck, and he relishes being a leader and top player on his team. There are a lot of different directions where his game can evolve from here.

6. Nathan Gaucher - C

Gaucher plays a very specific style of hockey and fills a very specific kind of role, but his value comes from the fact that he's one of the best prospects in all of junior hockey who regularly takes on that kind of workload and assignment. He's a shutdown center through and through, with everything that entails including lots of penalty killing, closing out leads late in games, taking important faceoffs, defensive matchups against the top players on opposing teams, and dishing out some snarl and physical punishment. All of it culminated in him being named the Best Defensive Forward in the QMJHL last season en route to QMJHL and Memorial Cup championships. He scored at a point-per-game clip in the QMJHL, but that won't be a big part of his game at higher levels. What Gaucher does might not be glamorous work, but he was a first-round pick by the Ducks and appeared in two World Juniors with Canada because he makes a big difference with how he plays.

7. Jacob Perreault - RW

Perrault had a choice of where to play during the 2021-22 season: stay in the AHL under the continued transfer exemption caused by COVID-19, or head back to the OHL. He chose to stay in the AHL and after a season of seemingly stalled progression you may wonder if it was the wrong choice. His raw natural ability in the offensive zone has always been apparent, especially as someone who can finish plays by getting the puck into the back of the net. The questions have always been about his all-around play and transitioning his scoring from a junior style to more of a professional style. As of right now, those questions remain unanswered. In fairness, some injury troubles and a bad team around him haven't helped. There is still untapped potential with Perreault, but the path is steeper than it was previously.

8. Jackson Lacombe - D

LaCombe's 2022-23 season ended in heartbreak, as his top-ranked University of Minnesota team was eliminated in the Frozen Four championship game by Quinnipiac. Even worse, he was on the ice for the overtime goal that sealed it. But you can't fault him for the loss, because he played his heart out, including blocking a shot with his face earlier in the game. That's not a fun way to end an NCAA career, but he is more than ready now to turn pro. Heck, he might even jump straight into the Ducks lineup, because the roster space is certainly there. He is an impressive skater, two-way contributor, fierce competitor, and natural leader, all of which are always valued in the NHL. He doesn't project as a true power play quarterback, but he'll be a guy who finds ways to produce points from the back end.

9. Tyson Hinds - D

Hinds had size and athleticism going for him in his draft year, while the other main elements of his game were still works in progress. But work on them he did, with the help of Anaheim's development staff. A season and a half later he made Canada's roster for the World Juniors, which is an impressive amount of growth for the former third-round pick. The Ducks selected him for his long-term upside, but this much growth this quickly probably surprises even them. The current package he brings is very enticing, adding much-improved puck skill and 200-foot play to his existing size and athleticism. Defensemen like Hinds eat a lot of minutes because they are so versatile. His floor is very high, and the ceiling keeps looking higher and higher as time goes on.

10. Nico Myatovic - LW

Myatovic's game is built primarily around strength and power, and he has an abundance of both. There aren't many, if any, better forecheckers in all of junior hockey. He chases after dump-ins with the momentum of a runaway freight train, and if he can't cleanly win the footrace to the puck, he's more than happy to land a crushing body check or use his long reach to disrupt the opposing defender's attempt at escaping. He's also an expert at killing penalties and defending empty net situations for similar reasons, aggressively applying pressure high in the zone and routinely forcing the puck out and down the ice. It's not like he's a black hole offensively, either. He can handle the puck well enough at full speed to contribute on the rush, and he is legitimately dangerous around the goal mouth because he does such a great job fighting to get there and then to stay there. The way he plays isn't glamorous, but he brings a lot of value to a roster, as evidenced by how much of a difference-maker he was with the Seattle Thunderbirds in their 2023 WHL championship run.

11. Carey Terrance - C

A versatile forward who brings an element of speed, Terrance plays a high energy, two-way game but has upside as a scorer. He returns to the Erie Otters this year as part of a strong, young group on the upswing.

12. Drew Helleson - D

A defense first defender who just completed his first pro year and even got in a few games with Anaheim. With his length and mobility from the right side, Helleson profiles as a steady #4-5 who can anchor a penalty kill and pair well with an aggressive offensive type. He could challenge for a roster spot this year.

13. Noah Warren - D

Recently moved to Victoriaville, the move should help Warren gain more offensive responsibility to help him round out his profile in his final junior season. The former high pick still profiles as a physical, stay-at-home type and still has top four upside.

14. Coulson Pitre - RW

A recent 3rd round selection by the Ducks, Pitre is a competitive, complementary winger. His hockey sense is a major strength and it allows him to pair well with higher skilled play drivers, as he opens up space for them. Should be a go-to offensive player in Flint (OHL) this year.

15. Sasha Pastujov - RW

The real test for Pastujov begins this coming season at the pro level. He has torched the OHL but there are still concerns over his lack of pace and overall skating affecting his transition to the next level. The upside is still high, and this season should give us an indication of how far away he truly is.

16. Calle Clang - G

Acquired from Pittsburgh in the Rakell trade, Clang got his first, small taste of the AHL last year and will continue with San Diego full time in 2023-24. He is unquestionably Anaheim’s top goaltending prospect after Dostal right now and will be given ample time to continue developing.

17. Benoit Olivier Groulx - C

Time is running out for Groulx, a former high selection and QMJHL star. He is no longer exempt from waivers and this upcoming training camp will be a huge one for him. His offensive game has yet to truly develop at the pro level, but he can still offer value as a defensively oriented checker on the bottom lines.

18. Ian Moore - D

Moore, an athletic two-way defender, has progressed well at Harvard through his first two years in college. He is returning for his junior year and the Ducks will be looking for him to take another step offensively. He still likely projects as more of a Drew Helleson-esque stay at home type.

19. Brayden Tracey - LW

This upcoming season will be a huge one for the former first round pick. A talented goal scorer, Tracey’s offensive production at the AHL level has been disappointing thus far. He has had trouble adjusting to the pace of the pro game. His days in the system could be numbered if he does not take a step forward this year.

20. Sam Colangelo - RW

Colangelo is hoping that a transfer to Western Michigan (from Northeastern) for his senior year can help him unlock his potential as a dominant two-way winger. He uses his size well to be disruptive and to protect the puck, but his on-puck play and production has remained inconsistent. He still has middle six upside.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #2 Anaheim Ducks

Derek Neumeier — Fri, 26 May 2023 13:22:19 +0000

Prospect System Ranking – 2^nd (2^nd last year)

The first year in a new era in Anaheim under Pat Verbeek did not yield the on-ice step forward the franchise was hoping for. They have had three outstanding graduates from the 2019, 2020, and 2021 drafts in Trevor Zegras (9^th), Jamie Drysdale (6^th) and Mason McTavish (3^rd) respectively. First round pick Isac Lundestrom (23^rd) from 2018 has also made the club. They are joined by emerging star, Troy Terry. Verbeek began his tenure moving veterans in Hampus Lindholm and Rickard Rakell for picks including a first (Nathan Gaucher, 22^nd) and three second round picks. He has been relatively quiet since then, but likely to be active around the draft. They secured the second overall pick in the upcoming draft, and are likely to take Adam Fantilli, who would likely go first in most drafts not including Connor Bedard. That will give them a dynamite middle of the ice in Zegras, McTavish and Fantilli that will compete with any team in the league in a few years.

In addition to the second overall pick, they also have six picks in the first three rounds of the 2023 NHL Draft to add to a deep pool of prospects. That pool includes Lukas Dostal, who should graduate to the NHL next season, and represents their future in net, and one of the brightest goaltending prospects in the league. Named the best defenseman in the OHL this past season, Pavel Mintyukov, taken 10^th overall in 2022, showed number one defenseman potential. Olen Zellweger, also named defender of the year in the WHL, is looking one of the steals of the 2021 draft. He is ranked #21 on our list of top prospects and he, Mintyukov and Drysdale will be the core of their defense for years.The Ducks have many of the pieces in place to begin climbing the standings.

Pavel Mintyukov

The Ducks are surely over the moon that they were able to land a prospect of Mintyukov' caliber with the 10th overall pick in the 2022 draft. Not only does he possess an enormous amount of raw skill, he also has an ideal frame and doesn't have any significant weaknesses. He went from playing on a high-flying, firewagon Saginaw team to a much more structured Ottawa club, and while his statistical output has since slowed down the change helped him round out his game while he chases a league championship. He shines the brightest with his offensive play and boy does he shine bright, but with the right development work he could become a premiere off-puck defender as well. If he reaches his full ceiling, he will be a true number-one defenseman who logs boatloads of ice time and contributes significantly on both sides of special teams.

2. Lukas Dostal

Sometimes playing on a bad team — or even two bad teams — can have its advantages. Both the Ducks and their AHL-affiliate Gulls have struggled this season, which has made it easier to give more starts to their hotshot young netminder to see what he can do. As it turns out, Dostal can do a lot, even with little to work with. That's not exactly a surprise, given his prior success in Europe, but it's been strongly reinforced now. His stats and record on the season don't tell the whole story, as he has faced high quality and quantities of shots at both levels, pulling out some heroic performances to keep games close and even steal a few wins. He's fast, flexible and does a great job of being controlled with his movements. His mental game is sharp and focused, while also equally competitive and calm. Expect him in the NHL full time next season.

3. Olen Zellweger

When you're a small defenseman you have to be very good in multiple different areas in order to be successful in the NHL. Luckily for Zellweger (and the Ducks), not only is he good in multiple different areas, he's flat-out exceptional in them. His ability to see the ice and read the play in front of him is almost unparalleled for his age group, and he applies that across all 200 feet of ice, whether that's breaking pucks out of his own end, carrying them through the neutral zone, or picking spots to attack offensively. He's poised under pressure but can also unleash a killer instinct. The reigning WHL defenseman of the year is well on his way to a repeat of that award, and with his padded resume of big-game hockey he shouldn't be phased at all by the bright lights of the Memorial Cup.

4. Jacob Perreault

Perrault had a choice for where to play in the 2021-22 season: stay in the AHL under the continued transfer exemption caused by COVID-19, or head back to the OHL. He chose to stay in the AHL, and after a season of seemingly stalled progression it's hard to wonder if it was the wrong choice. His raw natural ability in the offensive zone has always been apparent, especially as someone who can finish plays by getting the puck into the back of the net. The questions have always been about his all-around play and transitioning his scoring from a junior style to more of a professional style. As of right now, following a setback points-wise, those questions remain unanswered. In fairness, some injury troubles and a bad team around him haven't helped. There is still untapped potential with Perreault, but the path is steeped than it was previously.

5. Nathan Gaucher

Gaucher plays a very specific style of hockey and fills a very specific kind of role, but his value comes from the fact that he's one of the best prospects in all of junior hockey with that kind of workload and assignment. He's a shutdown center through and through, with everything that entails: lots of penalty killing, closing out leads late in games, taking important faceoffs, defensive matchups against the top players on opposing teams, and dishing out some snarl and physical punishment. He does score at a point-per-game clip in the QMJHL, but that won't be a big part of his game at higher levels. What Gaucher does might not be glamorous work, but he was a 1st-round pick by the Ducks and appeared in two World Juniors with Canada because he makes a big difference with how he plays.

6. Tristan Luneau

Luneau was the 1st overall pick in the 2020 QMJHL draft, and it's fair to say that he didn't quite live up those expectations in his first two years in the league. However, the foundation was always there for him to break out, and he did that in a huge way this season, exploding for a team-high 83 points in 65 games and leading Gatineau to one of the best records in the league. They're still going strong in the playoffs and could realistically win it all. There's so much to like about his game: his hockey sense is impressive, he has size and reach, his footwork is clean and mechanically sound, he's dangerous with the puck, and he relishes being a leader and top player on his team. There are a lot of different directions where his game can evolve from here.

7. Jackson Lacombe

LaCombe's 2023-24 season ended in heartbreak, as his top-ranked University of Minnesota team was eliminated in the Frozen Four championship game by Quinnipiac. Even worse, he was on the ice for the overtime goal that sealed it. But you can't fault him for the loss, because he played his heart out, including blocking a shot with his face earlier in the game. That's not a fun way to end an NCAA career, but he is more than ready now to turn pro. Heck, he might even jump straight into the Ducks lineup, because the roster space is certainly there. He is an impressive skater, two-way contributor, fierce competitor and natural leader, and all those attributes are always valued in the NHL. He doesn't project as a true powerplay quarterback, but he'll be a guy who finds ways to produce points from the back end.

8. Tyson Hinds

Hinds had size and athleticism going for him in his draft year, while the other main elements of his game were still a work in progress. But work on them he did, with the help of Anaheim's development staff. A season and a half later he made Canada's roster for the World Juniors, which is an impressive amount of growth for the former 3rd-round pick. The Ducks selected him for his long-term upside, but this much growth this quickly probably surprises even them. The current package he brings is very enticing, adding much-improved puck skill and 200-foot play to the existing size and athleticism. These kinds of defensemen eat a lot of minutes because they are so versatile. His floor for Hinds is very high, and the ceiling keeps looking higher and higher as time goes on.

9. Drew Helleson

The 2022-23 season has been aggressively unkind to the San Diego Gulls, and a campaign like that is usually hardest on defensemen. However, lessons can still be learned through struggle, and that will be what Helleson, a rookie professional, will need to focus on. If anything, he can contrast it with the success has already gotten to experience in his career, first with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and then Boston College. Getting a taste of both winning and losing will help him better understand what it takes to achieve the former. His best attributes are his smarts, work ethic and competitiveness, and he backs them up with a reasonably well-balanced skill package. While his overall profile might not seem very exciting, any coach worthy of his clipboard will know the value of a player like this.

10. Noah Warren

Warren's story is very similar to Hinds': a big, athletic defenseman out of the QMJHL who is still a little on the raw side but could be a very special player down the road with the right training, experience and development. Getting to play on one of the best teams in the league this season is a good kickstart in some ways, though Gatineau's competition for ice time among blueliners — especially on the powerplay — isn't exactly ideal for him. Regardless, his game would always lean more to the defensive side than the offensive side in any environment, and focusing on that isn't necessarily a bad thing, since he has all the tools necessary to become an elite shutdown defender one day. Anaheim's prospect pipeline is loaded with defensive depth, so they'll give him plenty of time to round out his game as much as possible at the lower levels.

2023 MEMORIAL CUP PREVIEW: Team Previews with top five prospects to keep an eye out for on each side

Adam Tate, Joely Stockl and Jérémi Plourde — Thu, 25 May 2023 17:28:55 +0000

On Friday, May 26, the 103rd edition of the Memorial Cup will kick off in Kamloops, British Columbia. The field includes the WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds, the OHL champion Peterborough Petes, the QMJHL champion Quebec Remparts, and of course, the host Kamloops Blazers. Last year the host Saint John Sea Dogs captured the trophy by defeating the Hamilton Bulldogs in the final. This year, the loaded Seattle Thunderbirds enter the tournament as the favourites, but as we have learned, anything can happen at the Memorial Cup. The kickoff game on Friday sees Quebec playing Kamloops and TSN will have all the action for Canadian viewers.

To get you ready for this year’s Memorial Cup, our regional scouts have written previews for each competing team, complete with the top players you need to watch out for!

WHL Champions - Seattle Thunderbirds

By Adam Tate

The Seattle Thunderbirds tallied 111 points in the regular season, good for the second most points in the WHL and the top playoff seed in the Western Conference. The team was dominant all season long, especially as their NHL drafted players returned to the roster after attending NHL training camps. Not satisfied with the roster, they were active at the WHL trade deadline, adding Dylan Guenther, Brad Lambert, and Colton Dach. After adding those players, they typically had a lineup containing 10 NHL draftees, as well as six players with the potential to be selected in the upcoming NHL draft. It’s little wonder that they were able to make easy work of the second leg of the regular season. They followed that up with 16 wins in 19 playoff games on their way to their second Ed Chynoweth Cup as WHL Champions. The forward unit is talented and deep, led by Dylan Guenther, Brad Lambert, and Jared Davidson. Their group on defence is also strong with the likes of Kevin Korchinski, Jeremy Hanzel, and Nolan Allan patrolling the blue line. Their goaltending tandem of Thomas Milic and Scott Ratzlaff is excellent, with both players likely to have their names called in this summer’s NHL Entry Draft.

Top Five NHL Prospects to Watch

Dylan Guenther (Arizona Coyotes)

Guenther played 33 games with the Arizona Coyotes this season before being returned to the WHL after playing in the WJC for Canada. At the World Junior Championship, he scored the second most goals (7 in 7 games played), trailing only Connor Bedard. In his first season with Seattle, he registered more than a point per game (29pts in 20 games) during his shortened regular season. In the WHL playoffs all he did was lead the entire CHL in goals. The tournament's goaltenders will need to know where he is on the ice at all times. Arizona got a good one.

Brad Lambert (Winnipeg Jets)

Lambert also played some pro games this season, getting into 13 games with the Manitoba Moose, the Jets AHL team. After a quiet WJC for Team Finland, he signed with Seattle, who had acquired his rights in the summer of 2022. Lambert had a very good regular season (38 pts in 26 games) and continued to establish chemistry with Guenther in the playoffs. Lambert ended up in a tie for the second most assists in the CHL playoffs with 20 in 17 games. His playmaking will be one of the keys to Seattle’s attack.

Kevin Korchinski (Chicago Blackhawks)

Korchinski parlayed a very good 2022 into an early first round selection by Chicago in last summer’s NHL Draft. He has given them no reason to doubt the pick as he had an excellent WHL season, becoming a better than point per game player for the first time with 73 points in 54 games. He was also a mainstay on Canada’s WJC blueline. His excellent all-around play continued in the WHL playoffs as one of the pillars of Seattle’s defence.

Reid Schaefer (Nashville Predators)

Like his teammates above, Schaefer has had a terrific year for Seattle, becoming a point a game player in both the regular season and the WHL playoffs. He was also on Team Canada at the WJC where he played more of a bottom six role. Between his size, desire to score goals, and ability to forecheck or dish out hits, he’s a lot to deal with. But he also has an intelligent defensive game and is relied on for PK minutes. Schaefer looks to be a very interesting piece for Nashville’s forward unit in the years to come.

Gracyn Sawchyn (2023 NHL Entry Draft Eligible)

There are easily another six or so players on the Thunderbirds that I could put in this space, but I wanted to write about one of the draft eligible players on the team. I had the chance to see Sawchyn live three times this season, including in the CHL Top Prospects game (a game in which he stood out). Despite being relegated to more of a secondary role as the team added players, he still ended up a point a game player in his first year in the WHL. A skilled player with a good motor and room to grow, he should be selected within the first three rounds of the upcoming NHL Draft.

Host City - Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

By Adam Tate

The Kamloops Blazers are the 2023 Memorial Cup Host Team. But while the Blazers are the hosts for this year’s tournament, they are no also-ran pushover, having won the BC Division while posting the third best point total in the WHL. Despite being a very strong team, the Blazers pulled off one of the biggest blockbuster trades in WHL history at the trade deadline, acquiring Olen Zellweger and Ryan Hofer from the Everett Silvertips for four players and ten draft picks. The Blazers went on a run in the playoffs, sweeping Vancouver and Portland in the first two rounds. While they did lose the Western Conference Final in six games to Seattle, they were also the team that gave the Thunderbirds the most difficulty in the WHL playoffs. The team is led by its two stars, Logan Stankoven and Zellweger. The forward group has talent beyond Stankoven, with Caedan Bankier, Matthew Seminoff, and Hofer piling up the points. The defensive unit isn’t quite as strong with Kyle Masters and Logan Bairos filling out the unit behind Zellweger. In net, the Blazers are led by NHL Entry Draft eligible Dylan Ernst. In total the Blazers have nine NHL drafted players and at least 2 with the potential to be drafted this summer.

Top Five NHL Prospects to Watch

Logan Stankoven (Dallas Stars)

Stankoven is a bona fide star at this level. Averaging two points per game in both the WHL regular season and playoffs, and better than a point per game for Team Canada at this year’s WJC, it’s possible his skill level might only be matched by that Bedard kid playing in Regina. Stankoven led the WHL in playoff scoring this year and now has the chance to play for the Memorial Cup for the host team in his hometown. It's easy to see how important this tournament likely is to Stankoven. His fearless north-south game, desire to go to the hard parts of the ice, and unrelenting motor are just a few more reasons why he’s likely to be a big factor in the tournament.

Olen Zellweger (Anaheim Ducks)

The main piece in one of the biggest WHL trades ever, Zellweger brought his offensive star power to Kamloops at the trade deadline. Like a lot of the prospects highlighted for Seattle, he was a featured player at the WJC this year. In fact, his time with the U-20 team for Canada is likely the only reason why he wasn’t the WHL’s leading scoring defenceman for the second year in a row. Instead, he had to settle for being the WHL’s best defenceman for the second year in a row. Powered by some of the purest skating skill in the entire CHL, Zellweger joins or leads the rush at will. Expect that he’ll put the other teams in the tournament on their heels often.

Caedan Bankier (Minnesota Wild)

Bankier broke out this season, scoring 37 goals and 85 points, good enough for a top 15 placement in WHL scoring. He turned that high level of play into more than a point per game in the playoffs. He was also a member of Team Canada’s U-20 roster at this year’s WJC, playing in more of a bottom six forward role. While this is more likely where he’ll end up if he makes the NHL, there’s still a lot to like about his shot and his playmaking ability at this level. His production will be needed if the Blazers are to go far in the tournament.

Fraser Minten (Toronto Maple Leafs)

The Kamloops Blazers are a big team, so much so that the 6’1”, 190lbs Minten doesn’t really stand out. But that doesn’t prevent him from being a big, regular hitter on their forward lines. Nor does it prevent him from using a great shot (one-timer or curl and drag wrister) to score a lot of goals. In fact, he scored 31 goals in the regular season, which wasn’t too far behind Stankoven’s total of 34. His playoffs were a bit quiet as he started out injured and is still working himself back into playing form.

Connor Levis (2023 NHL Entry Draft Eligible)

Like with Seattle, there were a few other prospects I could’ve written about here, but Connor Levis is Kamloops’ player most likely to be selected in the upcoming NHL draft. I was able to see Levis six times in person this season, including the CHL Top Prospects game and a playoff game. He’s a strong skater with excellent size for a forward who possesses good hockey awareness in the offensive zone. He makes a lot of smart support plays in the offensive zone to help create and maintain offensive possession. He ended the regular season with just under a point per game but had a quieter playoffs. The Blazers will need more from him in this tournament.

OHL Champions - Peterborough Petes

By Joely Stockl

The offensive powerhouse Peterborough Petes were able to bring it all together at the perfect time. The Petes were indeed busy on the trade front, from adding Brennan Othmann in November 2022, to bringing in Owen Beck, Avery Hayes, and Gavin White at the trade deadline. Their lineup changed drastically, and it took the team until the playoffs to be able to unite and play well as a group, finishing only fourth in the Eastern Conference. There was nothing stopping the Petes during the playoffs, despite several injuries and Owen Beck’s suspension in the finals. In addition to their offensive abilities, Playoff MVP Michael Simpson was stellar, starting in every single playoff game for the Petes. Making 36 of 37 stops in the final game against the London Knights, Simpson was a deciding factor in his team’s success. From sweeping the Sudbury Wolves, to eliminating the league leading Ottawa 67’s, to finally defeating the London Knights in 6 games, Peterborough will be a force to be reckoned with at the 2023 Memorial Cup.

Top Five NHL Prospects to Watch

Brennan Othmann (New York Rangers)

Brennan Othmann came to Peterborough to help this team win, and that is exactly what he did. The offensive prowess was a massive factor in the Petes’ offensive success. Othmann has it all, the shot, the skill, the offensive awareness, and the grit. He is so creative in the offensive zone, and he is a pure play driver who makes the players around him better. Being traded midway through the season is a difficult situation to handle, and Othmann took it in full stride to lead this team to the championship.

Tucker Robertson (Seattle Kraken)

After a tough run last season, getting eliminated in the 1st round, Tucker Robertson returned hungry for success. Robertson’s point totals don’t tell the whole story, even though he put up an astounding 90 points in the regular season. He is also one of the best penalty killing forwards in the league and has scored 11 shorthanded goals in the last two seasons. Robertson has been a huge part of this team’s core for the last two years, and he has been performing through thick and through thin for this team. The Seattle Kraken picked a good one in Robertson, even if it was one season after his original draft year.

Owen Beck (Montreal Canadiens)

Owen Beck split his time between Peterborough and the Mississauga Steelheads this season, and was a key player brought in by Petes General Manager, Mike Oke. Though Beck didn’t necessarily play lights out in the playoffs, he played his game, and he remained steady. Beck is likely the best 200-foot centerman in the entire OHL, and he is heavily relied upon to take faceoffs (59% on faceoffs in the regular season) slotting in as the Petes' 1st line centre. His suspension in the finals left a massive hole to fill at the center spot, but his team was able to finish the job. Montreal should be grateful that Beck dropped to the 2nd round of the 2022 NHL Draft; this is a mature player and a pick that will most definitely pay off in the future. Of note, it has been reported that Beck’s suspension will not carry over to the Memorial Cup and he will be eligible to play game one.

J.R. Avon (Philadelphia Flyers)

Similarly to Tucker Robertson, J.R. Avon has been a valuable part of this team’s core for the last two seasons. The sneaky, shifty winger is difficult to handle as one of the fastest skaters in the OHL. He has also been a big part of the Petes’ penalty kill for that reason. Avon put up just over a point per game in the regular season, potting 29 goals over the course of the season. The soon to be overage forward wears an ‘A’ on his jersey for a reason, as he is a large part of the heartbeat of this team. Any player that gets signed as a free agent has overcome some adversity in their career, and Avon was a part of the “COVID Draft Class” which made it difficult for him to be seen by scouts. Avon’s work ethic translates on and off the ice, and that was evident all season long.

Gavin White (Dallas Stars)

Continuing on the topic of overcoming adversity, OHL U18 Draft selection Gavin White is another inspiring story. It is incredibly difficult to find a roster spot in the OHL after being picked in the U18 Draft, but White defied the odds when he got selected by the Dallas Stars in last year’s draft. White arrived in Peterborough in a package deal with Avery Hayes, who were both viable factors in the Hamilton Bulldogs OHL Championship run in 2022. The offensive weapon from the blue line served on the Petes 1st powerplay unit for the majority of the playoffs (save for the finals when they made the switch to an all forward top unit), as their only real offensively-minded defender. White is a phenomenal skater who knows how to pick his spots and activate offensively, in addition to his dangerous transition game.

QMJHL Champions - Quebec Remparts

By Jérémi Plourde

It is definitely not a surprise to see the Québec Remparts bring the Gilles Courteau trophy home this year. Patrick Roy’s team has been simply phenomenal this year, dominating and finishing first with a 53-12-3 record and winning 16 of their 18 playoff games. Québec has swept everyone except the Halifax Mooseheads, including the Gatineau Olympiques, who were only four points behind them in the standings. They are champions for the first time since 1976, rewarding their fan base for the constant support throughout the season with an average attendance of 9762 fans (most in the CHL). The Remparts are now heading to Kamloops to compete for the Memorial Cup. Their first game will be against the hosting team, the Kamloops Blazers, on Friday.

Top Five NHL Prospects to Watch

Zachary Bolduc (St. Louis Blues)

Zachary Bolduc is possibly the best NHL prospect currently in the QMJHL. This year, he has scored 110 points in 61 games, which ranks him 3rd in the entire league in points per game. Bolduc has been a steady goal scorer for Québec during these playoffs, with 11 goals and 19 points in 18 games. The St. Louis Blues first rounder in 2021 will most likely be playing his last junior games in Kamloops, as he should take the next step and play in the AHL next year.

Nathan Gaucher (Anaheim Ducks)

Nathan Gaucher has shown this year why he is perfect for the NHL’s third line role, steadily scoring at about a point per game pace throughout both the regular season and the playoffs while being an important physical presence for Québec. He has been alternating between the second and third line, always as the center. He too, will likely turn pro next year as a 2003 born player, and should definitely find a role in the Anaheim Ducks’ bottom six in the coming years.

James Malatesta (Columbus Blue Jackets)

James Malatesta was the Columbus Blue Jackets’ 5th round pick back in 2021, and it would be fair to say that this is not a pick they are regretting. The Remparts right winger has scored 66 points in only 55 games this season, and 14 goals in 18 games in the playoffs, averaging almost 0.8 goals per game. His goal scoring skills have been a central part of Québec’s playoffs, making him the 2023 playoffs MVP.

Jérémy Langlois (Arizona Coyotes)

Jérémy Langlois was drafted last year in the 3rd round by the Arizona Coyotes and has been slowly but steadily improving this year. Ever since being traded from the Cape Breton Eagles to the Québec Remparts, Langlois has scored at about a point per game pace through 34 games, and while only receiving 3rd pairing minutes, he has managed to get 7 points in the 18 playoff games. With players leaving next year, Langlois will get a ton of ice time and will look to establish himself as one of the best defensive prospects in the QMJHL.

Evan Nause (Florida Panthers)

Evan Nause is another premier NHL prospect from the QMJHL who plays for the Remparts. He was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the 2nd round back in 2021, and although from a statistical standpoint he has not really taken a next step this year, his all-around game has steadily improved. Nause has been on the Remparts’ second pairing throughout the playoffs and has been tremendous, scoring 5 goals in only 18 games as a defenceman, good for first in the league among players of his position. In a few years, expect to see him find a role in the Panthers’ bottom four.

MCKEEN’S 2023 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – #9 Arizona Coyotes

Derek Neumeier — Mon, 22 May 2023 15:11:54 +0000

There has been a lot of losing in the desert over the years with only one playoff appearance in 11 years. That should translate to a lot of high draft picks to populate the prospect pipeline. They did have to forfeit a second-round pick in 2020 and a first in 2021, GM Bill Armstrong’s first draft in the driver’s seat. Nonetheless, development has been an issue as many high picks have just not reached their potential compared to where they were drafted. Only four graduations in Janis Moser, Matias Maccelli, Barrett Hayton, and Kevin Bahl in the last five drafts. They may all be fine NHL’ers but few home runs. 2019 11^th overall pick Victor Soderstrom has not made the leap yet and seems stagnant as a prospect.

Since Armstrong has been in charge, they have added two blue chip prospects, including the number one overall prospect on our McKeen’s list in Logan Cooley. He is followed closely by number six ranked Dylan Guenther. Last year’s 11^th overall pick, Conor Geekie ranks #49 on our list, and brings size, strength, puck skills, hands and a good shot in an intriguing package with the right development. Jan Jenik would likely have joined the graduate list in a breakout season if not for injuries. The Coyotes have 12 picks in the first three rounds of the next two drafts, 2023 and 2024. Armstrong has been busily gathering those in trades. How he deploys them may best be seen in his flipping three picks (#27, #34, #45) for the 11^th pick, in which he grabbed Geekie after getting Cooley third. He has extracted reasonable prices in moving his veterans, but how he and the organization handle the development of these promising pieces going forward will be critical if they are ever to be competitive. That is how we will know change has indeed arrived in Arizona.

TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 26: University of Minnesota Forward Logan Cooley (92) looks to break up a pass during a College Hockey game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Arizona State Sun Devils on November 26th, 2022, at Mullett Arena in Tempe, AZ. (Photo by Zac BonDurant/Icon Sportswire)

Logan Cooley

Cooley grew up in Pittsburgh during the peak of Sidney Crosby's career, and it's almost uncanny how much of the former's game has been clearly influenced by the latter. While the University of Minnesota center doesn't project to become a generational player like Sid is, his game is built around a very similar foundation: ample lower body strength and balance, excellent hockey sense, tenacious competitiveness, sublime puck skill, commitment in all three zones and an advanced maturity for how he conducts himself. There were some scouts in the industry who argued for him to be the first prospect picked in the 2022 draft, and that argument is even stronger now than it was a year ago. Arizona is trying to build things from the ground up (figuratively and literally), and Cooley is about as good as it gets for a foundational piece to build around.

2. Dylan Guenther

Guenther started his 2022-23 season in the NHL and looked right at home, scoring at a nice clip. When Arizona let him go to the World Juniors and then back to the WHL afterwards it wasn't done as a punishment — it was to let him stretch his legs a little more, add a gold medal that he didn't already have, maybe get a healthy crack at the Memorial Cup after injuries held him out last year, and come back to the NHL an even better player next year. It must feel like a punishment to all the junior-aged players he's going up against, though, because he's basically too good for this level now. He was lighting up the WHL playoffs in Seattle and barely looked like he was breaking a sweat doing it. He should enjoy the moment, because once he's back in the NHL he won't be leaving again.

3. Conor Geekie

Geekie did not seem to progress very much this season compared to last season, which is concerning when you consider the incredibly favourable situation he is in, playing on a dominant Winnipeg Ice team. With talented linemates to work with, and opposing defense spread thin with too much to handle, it should have been a feast for a prospect with such an overflowing toolbox. Instead, he blended into the scenery more than he stood out. Luckily for the Coyotes, though, there is still a ton here for their development staff to work with. His puck skills, hands and shot are all high end, and he should be able to make improvements with his skating ability and using his size and strength to bully opposing defenses in the cycle. When all the cylinders are firing for him at the same time, he's one of the scariest prospects in the country, and getting that to happen more frequently is the long-term focus.

4. Jan Jenik

It's a real shame that Jenik has battled through injury issues this season, because if he had stayed healthy he was on course to have a big breakout season in the NHL. He is one of the most well-rounded and complete players in the Coyotes organization, and it's hard to find any real faults in his game. Coaches love to send him over the boards in various situations because he's always around the puck or involved in the play, battling or thinking his way into earning copious puck touches, and when he gets to work in the offensive zone, he is very hard to contain thanks to his size, puck skill and offensive versatility. Everything about his game just screams long-term professional. Expect him to see a lot of NHL minutes next season if he is healthy.

5. Victor Soderstrom

After three seasons in North America Soderstrom has still yet to establish himself as a full-time NHLer, and questions are beginning to arise about where things are going to go with his career next. It's never a good sign when a player hits a plateau season over season in his early 20s. His mobility and hands are both still assets, but he is having trouble utilizing them in ways that make a positive difference. The offensive production isn't really coming along, and he's struggling with defending and moving pucks out of trouble. At the same time, the whole organization is going through growing pains, so further patience is needed to fully analyze the situation. The Coyotes want Soderstrom to be a key piece on their roster and will likely give him more chances to prove that he can be one.

6. Josh Doan

Doan finds himself in a truly unique situation, not just as the son of a former NHLer who was drafted by the same organization that his father starred for, but also because he is already playing in the same state that his dad helped bring hockey to for the first time. But if the built-in expectations and scrutiny created any unwanted pressure, the younger Doan certainly doesn't show its effects. If anything, he seems to relish being a future face of hockey in Arizona. His game presents a three-zone blend of skill, grit and leadership, and there is little question where he gets that from. He'll be a huge part of this organization for years to come, both as someone who can log a lot of ice time in all situations, and also as someone that can help instill a culture and identity in the locker room.

7. Maveric Lamoureux

Lamoureux missed the first half of his season due to injury, and once he was healthy joined a Voltigeurs team that has struggled to climb out of the basement of the league. But what matters most is that he's playing again, and in an important role, because he is very much a long-term project who needs as much ice time as possible if he's going to reach his full potential. It's so rare to find a prospect of this size who has this much raw skating ability, but that kind of player usually takes a long time to grow into his body and figure out the necessary small-area skill. The hope is that his reach and range will help him eventually grow into a space-dominating player who can log Top 4 minutes without having to expend as much energy as other defenders moving around the ice.

8. Julian Lutz

EHC München did a fantastic job of developing young Buffalo Sabres winger John-Jason Peterka, and the Coyotes are hoping that the same environment — which notably features a few former NHLers on the roster — will have similar benefits on Lutz. It has been a tough couple of years for the highly touted German winger, as injuries have limited his games played and, in turn, held back his growth. He possesses a high-end shot and the frame and hands to protect pucks, but the actual goals haven't materialized for him much lately because he's still working on how to get into prime shooting spots against top competition. Correcting his stiff skating stride and gaining more agility will be his main focuses moving forward, as right now it's too easy to gap up on him and neutralize him from the play.

9. Artyom Duda

Duda is a real jack-of-all trades defenseman, and already plays a very professional style of game that is responsible yet effective. He's the type of blueliner who you don't notice often, good or bad, but usually ends up with a few points on the score sheet. He's just very efficient with his puck touches, moving the play up the ice over and over with minimal mistakes, and then helping find ways to crack opposing defenses from the blueline in. It doesn't have to be exciting work, so long as it leads to more goals scored than goals allowed, which he accomplishes. He's even started slowly doing that at Russia's higher levels, too, spending about half of his 2022-23 season in his nation's top two pro leagues and holding his own. He might even have what it takes to move to the KHL full-time next year.

10. Aku Raty

The older brother of Vancouver Canucks prospect Aatu Räty, Aku isn't as purely talented as his younger sibling, but the argument could easily be made that he's a more well-rounded player. He was drafted for attributes like his forechecking, consistent effort and responsible off-puck play, but maybe there is some brotherly sharing of tips and tricks going on, because he played his way up the lineup into a Top 6 role this season and didn't look out of place at all, emerging as one of the top scorers for Ilves. After a season like that in a professional league, combined with his ability to thrive as a Bottom 6 winger, it's easy to project Räty as an eventual NHLer, with the possibility that he could become a true core piece on a team's roster. Championship teams can't be made up of entirely star players, after all.